Virgin Trains Breaks Ground On South Florida To Orlando Leg

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) - South Florida is one step closer to Virgin Trains service to Orlando.

Virgin Trains USA, formerly branded as Brightline, held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday at the Orlando International Airport for the construction of "Phase 2" of the line that will run from Miami to Orlando, and eventually to Tampa if all goes as planned.

Virgin Trains already has been operating from Miami to West Palm Beach.

The new phase will connect South Florida to Orlando International Airport on 170 miles of track. It represents a $4 billion investment by Virgin Trains, which is backed by Fortress Investment Group.

The new phase is expected to be completed by 2022.

The company also is in the process of constructing a train line between Las Vegas and Southern California.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)