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'Earl Grey or Jasmine?'
Sir richard branson
Serves US tea

Famed Entrepreneur in Town to Usher In Brightline's Next Chapter

By GERRY and PAMELA BARKER
North Palm Beach Life
Published April 5, 2019


Thursday, April 4, 2019, was a red-letter day, both figuratively and literally -- for Brightline. Billionaire British investor Sir Richard Branson was here to oversee the official renaming of the rail line's Miami station to "Virgin MiamiCentral" -- the first step in the rebranding following the Virgin-Brightline partnership announced last November.

The mayor of Miami was on hand, as well as Virgin Trains USA President Patrick Goddard, along with numerous city officials, Virgin and Brightline executives and media.

“Virgin has a long history of changing industries for the better and inspiring enduring loyalty through outstanding customer experience,” said Sir Richard Branson in the press release. “Today marks the first step in that journey with Virgin Trains USA as we unveiled the beautiful Virgin MiamiCentral station. I’m very excited to see the transformation of our service and the plans for the next phase of the project to Orlando.”

In the coming months and years, the Virgin brand, already among the most recognizable in the world, will become more prominent in South Florida. Virgin Voyages, Branson's new cruise line, is building a new terminal at the Port of Miami, where its first ship, the Scarlet Lady, will make her debut in April, 2020 (we have already booked a cruise on it).  Virgin Atlantic is flying nonstop from Miami to London. There's also talk of a Virgin hotel in Miami.

At the center of it all is Branson -- billionaire, visionary, entrepreneur, daredevil, adventurer, humanitarian -- and, may we add, one of our longtime personal heroes. When you learn about all he has accomplished, you realize when traveling the road of life he is on the Autobahn while you are in a school zone. Besides all the official duties that filled his day, Branson took time to mix and mingle with Brightline riders as he rode the train from Miami to West Palm Beach, and back again. With his flowing locks and million-dollar smile, guests were no doubt surprised to be greeted by one of the world's most famous men.  

And there we were, sitting in a Brightline car on our way to Miami, about to be served tea by Sir Richard Branson, a person we've admired since the early days of Virgin Records. Wow.
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Virgin Trains USA President Patrick Goddard and Sir Richard Branson flash the peace sign at Virgin MiamiCentral. (Credit: Brightline)
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Gerry in a sea of red (NPBL Photo)

After arriving in West Palm, Branson had a quick lunch before getting ready for the return trip to Miami

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Photos by North Palm Beach Life
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Branson serves riders with that most British of traditions: Tea

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If you want to know where Branson is, just follow the gaggle of photographers
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Pam and Sir Richard -- no need to say more.
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Pam has always been a big Anglophile. Meeting Sir Richard in person just gave her more reason to wave the Union Jack.
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We went with the Earl Grey, if you wondered
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We arrived in Miami and had to check out the rebranding ...

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No doubt about it --it's official!
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The rebranding festivities continued in the Select Lounge...

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Along with a special menu, you could order special drinks, like the Virgin Redhead, below. Take it from us -- those dessert donuts were deadly good!
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One thing we know ... with Sir Richard and Virgin at the helm, the future for South Florida has never been brighter!

NORTH PALM BEACH LIFE

Contact us: northpalmlife@gmail.com

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      • River Cruising in Germany - Wurzburg
      • River Cruising in Germany - Bamberg
      • River Cruising in Germany - Nuremberg
      • River Cruising in Germany - Regensburg
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      • The Hemingway House and Museum
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      • Beartooth Highway
      • North Cascades National Park
      • A Visit to the Philippines
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Glacier National Park
      • Yellowstone National Park
      • Hiking in Bear Country
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
      • The Kerrville Folk Festival
      • Building Hope in the Rio Grande Valley
    • Island Destinations
    • Lake Okeechobee Picnic
    • October Odyssey >
      • Cartagena, Columbia
      • Panama Canal
      • Antigua, Guatemala
      • Cabo San Lucas
      • Birds and Bees Speakeasy in Los Angeles
      • We Love LA
      • Coast Starlight
      • Napa Wine Tour
      • California Zephyr
      • California Zephyr Part Two
      • Chicago
      • Amtrak Capitol Limited
      • Washington DC
    • Pam - Traveling in Style
    • Road Trip! >
      • Road Trip! -- Tucumcari, New Mexico
      • Road Trip! -- The Painted Desert
      • Road Trip! - Sedona, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - Sedona Wineries
      • Road Trip! Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
      • Road Trip! - Mogollon Rim
      • Road Trip! - Verde Canyon Railroad
      • Road Trip! - Jerome, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - California
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Celebrity Tour
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
      • Road Trip! - Festival in Palm Springs
      • Road Trip! - Willcox, Arizona and Apple Annie's Orchard
      • Road Trip! Willcox Wineries
      • Road Trip! Chiricahua National Monument
      • Road Trip! Tombstone, Arizona
      • Tombstone, Part Two
      • Road Trip! - Epilogue
    • Unknown Yellowstone >
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      • Unknown Yellowstone - Summit Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Shoshone Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Grizzly Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Riddle Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Pelican Cone
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Mt. Washburn
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Specimen Ridge
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Avalanche Peak
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Divide Creek
    • U.S. Virgin Islands >
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      • St. Thomas Food Tour
      • St. Thomas Tour
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    • Pamela Barker - Author
    • The Story of StarText
  • Search