Looks like the inaugural run is a little delayed (~25mins), perhaps due to a very late northbound Silver Star that it met around Aberdeen. But I’m extremely impressed with the ridership this thing got and I hope that it shows lots of new people how great train travel can be. I think they should keep doing “special” trains like this.
3 Likes
You all obviously misunderstood the question. Clearly the inquiry is focused on the sea foam green accents on the apartment complex behind the train.
To answer the inquiry, this is weather protection material that has yet to be covered by the final material. Right? No way they’d leave this sea foam green color exposed, right?
Sorry guys, I had to. Back to train talk.
8 Likes
Do you, or anyone, have an idea of actual ticket sales?
I was down on the course (visiting and drinking, not playing) in the spring and was super impressed with where the train is dropping off passengers. I love SoPines and Pinehurst, but thinking about the traffic for this event gives me hives, lol. I would so be on this train.
5 Likes
He had plenty of company. Amtrak sold all 300 seats on both of the morning and evening trains Thursday and Friday and also filled another 60-seat car on Saturday and Sunday. “We had to add cars because of ticket sales, and we’re still sold out,” said Joey Hopkins, the N.C. Secretary of Transportation. “I mean, that’s a good problem to have.”
Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article289221919.html#storylink=cpy
15 Likes
Really good to hear. I knew that it did sell out or was otherwise close to doing so. It’s a long consist, much longer than normal Piedmont trains – seems like they had to borrow some Amfleet coaches, too.
1 Like
Only media I have seen about the US Open service, anyone have more?:
2 Likes
For the open they are expecting well over 200k throughout the weekend. No idea on the train numbers.
1 Like
That is the dome car (ACWR 9373) which was purchased by the Aberdeen Carolina & Western at a bankruptcy auction of Iowa Pacific Holdings in 2022. It was restored at their shop in Candor and is in use for ‘business development.’
It was originally the Southern Pacific #3604 running on the Sunset Limited in the 1950’s.
Currently being used on the Open Express to take guests to Pinehurst for the US Open.
10 Likes
I was on the Piedmont yesterday. All of the cars were so hot! Makes for a pretty miserable ride.
I’ve noticed that the AC can get pretty weak.
New cars can’t come soon enough.
1 Like
FYI: The NCDOT dome car ‘Mount Mitchell’ was removed from service due to new federal fire safety regulations. The cost for rebuilding and upgrading the car to the new federal standards exceeded the amount justified for this car.
5 Likes
Looks like a new station is coming…
16 Likes
A BRT station and bus terminal, to be clear. It’s still far from clear if we’ll even get a new Amtrak station there, let alone regional rail (for obvious reasons).
We also talked about this in the RTP thread, if you want more details:
8 Likes
Looks like NCRR just got some CRISI money: North Carolina Railroad Company Secures $105.6 Million for Transformational Rail Improvements | NC Gov. Cooper
@orulz any idea of the specific improvements this will bring?
9 Likes
The grant is $105 million and together with funds from NCDOT and Norfolk Southern it adds up to $170m.
That’s enough to do some major work, but not enough to do something like double track the entire Greensboro-Raleigh corridor.
It says seven locations and calls out Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, Hillsborough, Burlington, and Greensboro, but don’t know exactly what projects this will include. I will try a few guesses.
It does say that it will allow more passenger trains and significantly reduce delays so double tracking is probably on the agenda. My guess, Fetner (downtown Cary) to Clegg (McCrimmon Parkway) will be one of the headliner projects. As a bonus this also helps with future commuter rail.
I know there are some curve realignments that have been proposed or suggested around Hillsborough, including a few related to the train station project, so maybe that will be a part of it. I don’t think this will include actually building the station, though.
Not really sure what would be planned in Greensboro or Burlington. Double track extending east from Greensboro could alleviate a major source of delay. Who knows.
As for Raleigh, double tracking east of downtown could help too, but a lot of bridge work would be required so I doubt it’s in the plans.
13 Likes
Congresswoman Ross Announces Over $105 Million in Federal Funding for the North Carolina Railroad Company
Funding will support the freight and passenger rail networks between Greensboro and Raleigh
Raleigh, N.C. — Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced $105,595,000 in federal funding awarded to the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The grant will be used by NCRR in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and Norfolk Southern to help complete key components of the freight and passenger rail networks between Greensboro and Raleigh. Already this year, the number of NC By Train passengers has increased by 20% in comparison to 2023.
This funding will also significantly increase on-time performance for existing Amtrak routes, allow for additional passenger trains along the growing corridor, and help meet growing transportation needs in North Carolina.
In June 2024, Congresswomen Ross was joined by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC), along with other members of the North Carolina delegation, in supporting NCRR’s application for this grant.
“I am thrilled to see this important investment coming to North Carolina that will help connect critical rail lines across our state,” said Congresswoman Ross. “From the Triangle to the Triad, North Carolina’s rapid growth demands robust transportation solutions that can meet the needs of our communities. I will continue fighting for federal support that will invest in modern transportation options and strengthen our economy.”
This grant will fund a majority of the Carolinian and Piedmont Passenger and Freight improvements project to upgrade the capacity of the NC-Line, owned by the NCRR, to meet the growing demands of both freight and passenger traffic in the state. This project will support various improvements, including reconstructing up to 69 miles of rail and adding over five miles of sidings.
15 Likes
5+ miles of siding: if they’re doing Fetner to Clegg, that’s going to be it for the double track.
Reconstructing 69 miles - what exactly does that mean? Are they rebuilding the track bed for the tighter tolerances of FRA Class 5 (meaning 90mph top speeds)? Are they doing realignments to reduce curve-related speed restrictions? Are they increasing curve superelevation? Are they just replacing worn out rails? Putting in concrete ties? Inquiring minds want to know!
10 Likes
TBJ comes through with the deets:
https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2024/10/30/north-carolina-rail-infrastructure-federal-grant.html
- 4.5mi of double track (Fetner to Clegg)
- A realignment and 3500 foot siding in Hillsborough
- A half-mile siding near Elon
- A curve realignment and crossing closure in Durham (Likely the East Durham Rail Safety Project at Glover and Wrenn road?)
- Replacing 69 miles of rail (Seems to mean replacing the literal steel rails? Anyway, 69 miles is the entire distance from Cary to Greensboro.)
13 Likes
Nice
(More Characters)
3 Likes