METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Tri-Rail Surpasses 4 Million Rides in 2024

Tri-Rail has achieved pre-pandemic ridership as they served 4.4 million riders in 2024, bringing them over the 4 million mark for the first time since 2019.

Tri-Rail Train

Tri-Rail saw more than 4 million riders over the course of 2024, as they worked to expand their services in Miami.

Photo: Tri-Rail

2 min to read


South Florida Regional Transportation Authority’s (SFRTA) Tri-Rail reported that it served 4.4 million riders over the course of 2024. This marks the first time since 2019 that ridership exceeded 4 million in a single year.

Back to Full Ridership

Tri-Rail consistently surpassed 4 million annual rides between 2012 and 2019, growing by 1% year over year during the period with the highest ridership year being 2019.

Ad Loading...

With full ridership recovery reported last year in March of 2024, Tri-Rail had an average of 15,000 weekday rides and 8,000 weekend rides during the month. By the end of 2024 the system was able to maintain an average of 14,000 weekday and 7,000 weekend rides including setting a new Saturday ridership record of 10,129 trips on February 24, 2024.

“We are thrilled to see a strong resurgence in ridership as more people discover the convenience Tri-Rail offers,” said Commissioner Marci Woodward, SFRTA Governing Board Chair. “We aspire to continue to break our own records, and more importantly, to establish a service that enhances the rider experience and strengthens the region’s mobility.”

Expanding Services

Tri-Rail services were expanded to serve downtown Miami in January 2024, adding Miami Central Station as a stop for the train system. The service’s schedule was also enhanced in the summer to include weekday express train service for Miami Central and a midnight train out of Miami Airport Station.

In December 2024 Tri-Rail improved its on-time performance to 93.6%, marking the first time in over a year for it to exceed 90%.

In addition to the enhanced train schedule, Tri-Rail provided special train service for notable events throughout 2024. These included the Ultra Music Festival, Talyor Swift’s The Eras Tour, and the Miami New Year’s Ever celebration.

Ad Loading...

“We have set new goals to make sure we are doing all we can to provide a better customer experience and bring more people to use the train,” added Commissioner Woodward. “Opening service in downtown Miami was a significant achievement, and we will keep working closely with our partners to provide safe, convenient, and efficient transportation that meets the needs of the region.”

More Rail

MTA Advances Accessibility Improvements in Brooklyn
Paratransitby StaffJune 17, 2026

New York MTA Leverages Zoning Program to Advance Station Accessibility

Accessibility enhancements at Nevins St Station will be financed through a development agreement tied to the MTA's Zoning for Accessibility initiative.

Read More →
Six-Year Plan Boosts Virginia Transit, Rail Investments
Managementby StaffJune 17, 2026

Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail

Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.

Read More →
Security and Safetyby StaffJune 16, 2026

DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades

Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An LA Metro D Line train in Union Station
Managementby StaffJune 16, 2026

D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System

Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.

Read More →
A user demonstrating Metrolink's contactless fare payment pilot.
Technologyby StaffJune 12, 2026

Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot

Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.

Read More →
A BART train on the tracks.
Managementby StaffJune 12, 2026

California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels

The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A rendering of the Amtrak New York Penn Station renovation
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling

The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.

Read More →
Groundbreaking event for Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 TBM construction.
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage

New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.

Read More →
A man sits in a passenger rail seat and looks at his phone.
Railby Elora HaynesJune 8, 2026

The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow

What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Aerial view of Caltrain's electric service.
Railby StaffJune 5, 2026

Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures

The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.

Read More →