Miami and Fort Lauderdale may be only about 30 miles away, but the thought of traveling between South Florida’s principal cities usually provokes a heavy sigh from commuters. Rush-hour traffic or an accident can easily turn a 45-minute drive into an hourslong ordeal.

That’s about to change. The Brightline high-speed train, the only privately owned and operated passenger rail system in the U.S., took its inaugural run to Miami on Friday filled with politicians and reporters. The public can ride starting May 19.