The Brightline high-speed train will keep its original name rather than rebrand as Virgin Trains USA, as proposed last year.
The news, contained in a financial filing, follows money- and pandemic-related problems for the transportation empire of Virgin founder Richard Branson.
Like most airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia have been scuffling for survival during the pandemic. And the Virgin Voyages cruise line has put off its 2020 debut until at least the fall; its Scarlet Lady was originally schedule to set sail in April. In addition, Virgin Trains in the U.K. shut down at the end of last year after 22 years of service because its bid to continue operating trains out of London was disqualified by the U.K. Department for Transportation.
In the filing, Brightline gave no reason for the change and said Virgin may object to the severance of their relationship. In March, Brightline suspended its own daily service, which connects Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. There has been no announced timetable for resumption.