Miami Airport's Train: A Convenient Travel Option

Miami International Airport (MIA) has a range of train services available. The MIA Mover, which opened in 2011, connects the airport to Miami Central Station, from where passengers can access the Tri-Rail commuter train, which links Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The Tri-Rail is accessible from the third level of the terminal. The MIA Mover also connects to the Metrorail, which provides services on the Green and Orange Lines. The Metrorail runs from Kendall through South Miami, Coral Gables, and downtown Miami, to the Civic Center/Jackson Memorial Hospital area, and to Brownsville, Liberty City, Hialeah, and Medley in northwest Miami-Dade. The MIA Mover, Metrorail, and all Miami-Dade buses are wheelchair accessible. The MIA Skytrain, which opened in 2010, operates within Concourse D and connects four stations over a distance of 0.70 miles (1.12km). The Skytrain is fully automated and operates 19 hours a day, from 5 am until midnight, with a maximum speed of 50 miles per hour (80km/h).

The MIA Skytrain

The Skytrain was built as part of an airport expansion project that began in 2007, with the new terminal opening in November 2009. Skytrain operations commenced in September 2010. The total cost of the Skytrain system was $130 million (equivalent to $177 million in 2023). The system has a capacity of up to 9,000 passengers per hour per direction, and it served about 40,000 passengers daily in 2015.

The trains are fully automated and operate using rubber tires. They can accelerate or decelerate at a rate of 3.2 ft/s2 (0.97 m/s2), with a maximum speed of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). The trains are powered by a 750 V DC electrical system and feature electronically-controlled pneumatic brakes with regenerative braking. Up to four trains can be in operation simultaneously, with at least one on standby. During rush hours from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, four trains are in service, with two or three trains in operation at other times. The headway between trains is two to three minutes, and the travel time along the entire route is four minutes.

On December 22, 2015, a train collision occurred during an overnight maintenance test, resulting in a temporary suspension of passenger service. In September 2023, the Skytrain service was again suspended for six months due to structural damage and deterioration in the system's infrastructure.

MIA Metrorail Station

Miami International Airport (MIA) is served by the Metrorail system, which runs from Kendall through South Miami, Coral Gables, and downtown Miami, to the Civic Center/Jackson Memorial Hospital area, and to Brownsville, Liberty City, Hialeah, and Medley in northwest Miami-Dade. The Metrorail operates from 5 am to midnight, seven days a week.

To get to the MIA Metrorail Station from north of Earlington Heights Station, board a southbound Green Line train, exit at Earlington Heights, and transfer to a northbound Orange Line train. On weekdays, the Orange Line runs from Earlington Heights to the airport, while on weekends, it only provides Airport Shuttle train service between these two stations, with a train every 15 minutes. The MIA Metrorail Station is located on the upper level of the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC), with trains departing in a northerly direction. The MIC is located on Northwest 21st Street, near North Douglas Road, and is served by several transit systems, including Tri-Rail, Metrorail, the MIA Mover, Metrobus, and Greyhound Lines.

The MIA Mover is an automated people mover that transports passengers between the MIC and the airport terminals, departing from the upper level of the MIC. The MIA Mover station was constructed between 2009 and 2011, receiving a certificate of occupancy in January 2011 and opening in September 2011. The Metrorail station features a stainless steel and aluminum canopy, with a Metrobus station integrated into its ground level.

The Metrorail fare is $2.25 each way, and passengers can pay with contactless payment, EASY Card, EASY Ticket, or the GO Miami-Dade Transit app. Cash is accepted for the purchase of an EASY Card or Ticket at Ticket Vending Machines located at Metrorail stations.

MIA Mover

The MIA Mover is a free shuttle service that links Miami International Airport to the Miami Central Station and the Rental Car Center. The shuttle departs every 30 minutes during the week and every 15 minutes on weekends. The MIA Mover has two stations: the MIC Station and the MIA Station. The MIC Station is the eastern terminus of the line, located on the fourth floor of the MIC, and contains direct access to the MIC's rental car centre and Miami Airport Station. The MIA Station is the western terminus of the line, located on the third floor of the main terminal building between the Flamingo and Dolphin Parking Garages. The ride between the two stations takes approximately three minutes.

The MIA Mover is wheelchair-accessible and is utilised by local residents and out-of-towners alike. The construction of the MIA Mover cost an estimated $259 million and was funded by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department's Capital Improvement Program and the Florida Department of Transportation. The shuttle is elevated an average of 40 feet (12 m) above ground and travels 1.27 miles (2.04 km) between the two stations.

While the MIA Mover provides a convenient transportation option for many, there have been reports of breakdowns and long queues. In July 2017, a breakdown required riders to walk along the tracks escorted by firefighters. Additionally, there have been reports of the MIA Mover being out of service for extended periods, causing travellers to opt for alternative transportation methods such as taxis or ride-sharing services.

Tri-Rail

Miami International Airport does offer a train service. The MIA Mover train connects the airport to the Miami Central Station, from where passengers can access the Tri-Rail service. The Tri-Rail service connects Miami to Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

To access the Tri-Rail from the Miami International Airport, passengers should proceed to the 3rd level of the terminal and follow the signs to the MIA Mover train to Miami Central Station. The Tri-Rail station at Miami Airport is equipped with a ticket kiosk at the southern end of the train platforms. Passengers can also access the City of Miami Trolley from the Miami Central Station/Rental Car Center. The Tri-Rail service began operations on January 9, 1989, and has since become a vital transportation resource for the region.

The Tri-Rail service covers a large number of stations across South Florida, including Fort Lauderdale Airport, Sheridan Street, Hollywood, Golden Glades, Opa-locka, Metrorail Transfer, Hialeah Market, MiamiCentral, Mangonia Park, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Cypress Creek, Fort Lauderdale, and many more.

The Tri-Rail service offers a range of fare options, including one-way, round-trip, 12-trip, monthly, and regional monthly passes. The Tri-Rail website provides a schedule of departure times for each station, with the option to choose between weekday and weekend/holiday travel. Passengers travelling to or from MiamiCentral Station must transfer to a connecting Tri-Rail train at the Metrorail Transfer Station unless riding the X301 or X302 Express Trains.

Brightline

Miami International Airport does offer train services, including the MIA Mover, the Metrorail Orange Line, and the Tri-Rail commuter train. However, these trains do not seem to be a part of the Brightline service.

Frequently asked questions