runs east-west, beginning in Ft. Pierce, passing through Okeechobee before terminating in Bradenton, from Ft. Pierce. Florida State Road 60 connects Vero Beach in the east with Clearwater to the west, away. Railroads The Florida East Coast Railway operates freight service along the coast throughout the region. FEC also operates a rail yard just south of downtown Fort Pierce. U.S. Sugar's South Central Florida Express, Inc. (SCXF) leases tracks between Pahokee and Fort Pierce from the FEC, known as the Lake Harbor Branch (K Branch). Along with trackage rights into FEC's Fort Pierce Yard, they also have a car haulage arrangement with FEC to Jacksonville to interchange with CSX and Norfolk Southern. Up until 1963, long-distance passenger trains operated along the route. Among the most notable passenger trains were (main sponsors and destinations) the East Coast Champion (Atlantic Coast Line, New York City); City of Miami (Illinois Central, Chicago); Dixie Flyer (Louisville & Nashville, Chicago); Florida Special (winter season only; Florida East Coast Railway, New York City); Havana Special (Florida East Coast Railway, New York City); South Wind (Louisville & Nashville, Chicago). The Southern Railway's Royal Palm from Cincinnati ended its service south of Jacksonville, along the Florida East Coast by 1958. Amtrak and the Florida Department of Transportation have been discussing returning passenger service to the coast. In 2018, Brightline, a higher speed train line that will ultimately run between Miami and Orlando, announced that it was looking for sites for a new station between Fort Pierce and Miami. As of November 2019, Stuart is the frontrunner to receive the Brightline station. References Further reading Coasts of Florida East Coast of the United States Regions of Florida South Florida Metropolitan areas of Florida Indian River Lagoon Indian River County, Florida Martin County, Florida St. Lucie County, Florida Geography of Indian River County, Florida Geography of Martin County, Florida Geography of St. Lucie County, Florida 1960s establishments in Florida