Japan welcomed high-speed passenger rail in the 1960s; France in the 1980s; Germany and the UK in the 1990s.

The US has lagged behind, with people still commuting over land by standard-speed train or car.

Brightline is developing the first privately owned and operated high-speed passenger rail system in the US.

The first leg stretches 235 miles from Miami, Florida, to Orlando, Florida; reaches speeds of 125 miles per hour; and runs alongside, and provides an alternative to driving on, US Interstate 95, one of the country’s most congested highways.

Most recently, Mayer Brown advised Morgan Stanley on transactions whose proceeds were used to completely overhaul Brightline’s capital structure—refinancing over $5 billion in debt and funding various reserve accounts—to support the rail project.

Florida commuters are not only getting from point A to B quickly but doing it while watching shows over free Wi-Fi, reading books, and napping.

Brightline is expanding its Florida project west, connecting Orlando to Tampa. The Florida project also serves as a “proof-of-concept” for a Brightline service connecting Las Vegas, Nevada, and Southern California at speeds as high as 200 miles per hour.