If you've been taking advantage of free SunRail rides, it won't last much longer.
Beginning May 19, riders will be required to have a SunCard to board the trains, and tickets are on sale right now.
You have the choice of a one way ticket, round trip ticket, seven-day plan, monthly plan or yearly plan.
You can still ride SunRail for free until May 16.
In anticipation of the May 19 start of SunRail revenue service, the Florida Department of Transportation is announcing Monday that tickets are available for customers to purchase on-line, at the www.sunrail.com website, and at ticket vending machines located at each SunRail platform.
This means SunRail tickets will be available for purchase a full week in advance of when they will be required to board trains on May 19. Free service on SunRail will last through May 16.
To board SunRail starting May 19, riders will need to purchase one of several different types of fare media – a reloadable weekly, monthly or annual pass; a stored value card that customers can reload with a predetermined amount of money; or a daily or round-trip (paper) ticket. A $5 one-time fee will be charged for all reloadable fare products, called SunCards. Please see the fare table below for fares and discount incentives associated with the purchase of a SunCard.
- At Ticket Vending Machines: SunRail customers will be able to purchase fare media products at SunRail ticket vending machines located at SunRail stations. There are four located at each station. Three machines accept credit and debit only. One accepts cash, coins, credit and debit. To further assist SunRail customers, technical representatives for the ticket vending machines also will be at each SunRail station to troubleshoot the launch of this new electronic ticketing system, and if required, answer inquiries.
- Online: This is a handy site for those who already have a SunCard to manage their accounts. The www.sunrail.com website will also allow passengers to register their SunCards to guard against fraud, theft or loss, and to load or reload SunCards online. The online service will also allow you to buy a SunCard ($5 fee) and have it sent to you, however, due to security reasons we cannot send you a SunCard with any prepaid amount in it. This is to guard against theft of your card and to protect your financial information.
Once passengers purchase their SunRail ticket, they will need to “Tap On” at one of three ticket validators located on each platform before boarding SunRail, and then “Tap Off” at their final destination station for the proper fare to be deducted.
If passengers do not “Tap Off”, the full fare will be deducted from their account. Conductors on board all SunRail trains also will be randomly checking tickets to ensure that passengers have “Tapped On”.
In addition, SunRail Ambassadors dressed in black polo shirts featuring the colorful SunRail logo are currently stationed at each platform to assist customers with ticket purchases and to remind them to “Tap On” and “Tap Off” once revenue service begins.
Customer service representatives will be available to assist should any technical matter arise.
Passengers needing on-line or additional assistance with purchases should contact the SunRail Customer Service Desk at 1-855-RAIL-411 or 1-855-724-5411.
SUNRAIL FAST FACTS
- Estimated boardings Thursday, May 1: 10,819
- Estimated boardings Friday, May 2: 10,496
- Estimated boardings Monday, May 5: 8,586
- Estimated boardings Tuesday, May 6: 9,761
- Estimated boardings Wednesday, May 7: 10,437
- Estimated boardings Thursday, May 8: 10,675
- Estimated boardings Friday, May 9: 14,749
- Total estimated boardings since May 1: 75,523
- Average boardings per day since May 1: 10,789
- More than 1 million page views at www.sunrail.com since mid-February
- Passengers are looking for destination options along the way, and Winter Park businesses are reporting uptick in business since service began May 1.