Brightline Florida and McLaren Applied have partnered to bring advanced motorsport-inspired technology to passenger rail for the first time.
Brightline is the first train operator worldwide to deploy this advanced hybrid technology at-scale, enabling more reliable Wi-Fi connection, even at high speeds or in rural areas.
This is made possible by McLaren Applied’s Fleet Connect software using their 5G Edge Active Antenna and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications in a world first. This innovation represents a leap forward in onboard communication, setting a new standard for passenger experience.
“Guests want fast and reliable Wi-Fi and this unique partnership will deliver that,” said Kevin McAuliffe, chief technology & digital innovation officer of Brightline in a media announcement. “Elevating the guest experience is at the center of everything we do and leveraging technology partnerships like McLaren Applied puts our guests in the driver’s seat when it comes to internet connectivity.”
The Motorsports Connection
The roots of this groundbreaking technology trace back to the highest level of motorsport. Two decades ago, McLaren Applied developed the software and hardware to overcome the challenge of real-time monitoring of sensors on Formula One race cars at speeds exceeding 200 mph.
The result was a suite of high-performance connectivity solutions, including a unique software approach to optimize connectivity in every turn, resulting in near 100 percent coverage at the most challenging international racetracks. Now, McLaren Applied has developed a similar solution for Brightline.
The result is Fleet Connect—a piece of software already in large fleets worldwide—that facilitates seamless high-speed passenger Wi-Fi connections, as well as operator uplinks for operational, infrastructure and safety purposes. In this occasion, Fleet Connect combines Starlink LEO Satcoms and 5G networks to eliminate blackspots, offering a transformative hybrid connectivity solution only found on Brightline trains.
In addition to the software, McLaren Applied has now revolutionized the hardware architecture used in connected trains. This system is the first to remove routers and RF cables from the train. By integrating electronics on the antenna, the 5G Edge Active antenna brings next generation performance, as well as lower cost and complexity.
“These innovations were designed with the racing mindset: be ultra-reliable, lightweight, and resilient to high speeds and vibrations—attributes that seamlessly translate to rail applications,” said Pablo Garcia, Director, Connected Intelligence at McLaren Applied.
Brightline anticipates the McLaren Applied system will be operational on all trains by July 2025.
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