Brightline Phase 2 – Orlando to Cocoa

In 2023, Phase 2 of the Brightline railway project was completed, connecting Central and South Florida with high-speed rail infrastructure, and marking a significant milestone in Florida’s transportation landscape. This phase included a segment between Orlando and Cocoa, which operates at speeds up to 125 mph – the lower limit of the high-speed rail standard. As with the entire Brightline system, one notable engineering feature along this 35-mile segment is the extensive use of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining walls to elevate the track over other infrastructure and difficult terrain.

The Reinforced Earth Company (RECo) supplied dozens of retaining walls totaling over 450,000 square feet for the segment between Orlando and Cocoa. In addition to square-panel faced Reinforced Earth® walls, about 3.5 miles of lower-height walls were installed using RECo’s Piano Wall™ system. Piano Wall uses full height facing panels and is very economical for installation of short-height walls over long distances. Both wall systems are a crucial component of the railway’s infrastructure, providing stability and structural integrity and ensuring the new passenger rail system will reliably and comfortably move passengers quickly through the state.