We already have heavy rail lines/corridors in place, don’t we?
2 Likes
With there being 11 BRT lines planned throughout the region and passenger rail improvements down the line… Light Rail (LRT) is at least a decade away, we’re more likely to have CRT before then.
I will say that BRT lanes are the perfect stepping stones for combined LRT and BRT infrastructure in the future. All our cities would need, are train depots (in which, will be harder to find space for).
7 Likes
I needed a good laugh today.
3 Likes
Lol. That would be cool if Raleigh didn’t have CRDs
Trains … have a cheaper operating cost
Sometimes. Trains, stations, tracks etc have a high fixed cost to be amortized, and an individual train requires on-board crew, dispatching, maintenance of track and locomotives and cars, etc. If the passenger volume is high enough, sure, trains are less costly per passenger. But you need bodies on board to reach that crossover point.
4 Likes
I heard on the train last week that they are adding the Cafes to the Piedmont instead of the snack car. It could be that!
3 Likes
That’s rather more hype than they usually put into things. I hope the announcement is not a nothingburger.
Something to do with the S-line, such as the Trump admin releasing the hold on the funds. Or finalizing acquisition of the corridor from CSX. Or, dare I to hope- announcement of funding for the rest of the S-line?
An agreement with Norfolk Southern to fund restoration of the Old Fort Loops and start passenger service to Asheville would be a dream scenario.
Announcement of a long-expected deal with Siemens to buy new trains would be good.
An extra daily round trip between Raleigh and Charlotte would also be good enough.
A locomotive back from refurb, or a new paint scheme, doesn’t really do it for me.
Cafes instead of snack cars, a little underwhelming but… meh, maybe. Not really what I’d call “big”
6 Likes
Exterior paint on some NCDOT passenger cars is getting ratty. I’m sure they prefer to get new cars instead of repainting the existing ones, but maybe they’re at the point where they have to.
Ridership is way up from the first years of the Piedmont when a food service vendor was on board.
3 Likes
You’ll get half of it, at least. Norfolk Southern just announced they will restore the remaining section of their tracks through NC that has been closed since Helene, just a short section between Grovestone and Old Fort that includes the loops, by this coming winter. The press release doesn’t say if they are asking for public money for this work or not, but I can’t imagine it’s going to be cheap to do on top of all the other rebuilding they’ve already done.
Additionally, the company is committing to rebuilding the portion of the line that connects Old Fort to Grovestone, including the historic Old Fort Loops. The 16 miles of railroad was severely damaged by the hurricane and resulting floods. Until now, the company had been conducting an extended evaluation of line damage for restoration. The line rebuild is expected to be completed this winter.
14 Likes
That shrink-wrap looks like what Evan posted upthread.
USDOT has been re-approving already-approved grants, so maybe there’s an announcement there.
1 Like