RALEIGH, N.C. – After reporting a record-breaking month in September, North Carolina’s state-sponsored intercity passenger service achieved another monthly high for ridership in October. The Carolinian and Piedmont trains carried 55,493 passengers in October, beating September’s record of 48,488 passengers by over 14%.
“What a fantastic accomplishment for the traveling public,” state Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette said in a news release. “We are excited to see record numbers of our citizens and visitors choose to ride NC By Train. The train offers people an easy way to travel without the stress of a drive.”
In addition to making its regular stops, passengers in October were also able to make a one-day special stop in Lexington for The Barbecue Festival and a stop at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh during the North Carolina State Fair.
NCDOT funds the Carolinian, which makes a dozen stops in the state on a daily round trip between Charlotte and New York City. The state sponsored Piedmont began service between Raleigh and Charlotte in 1995 and now makes three round trips a day using equipment owned by NCDOT.
Demand for North Carolina’s passenger service has rebounded since the COVID-19 pandemic. Since April, the Piedmont and Carolinian have averaged nearly 47,500 passengers a month, about 8,850 more than the monthly average in 2019.
We have a great passenger rail system here in my home state. I have ridden it a couple of times and enjoyed it thoroughly. Plus I was one of those numbers in October!
After hearing and reading so many negative stories and experiences about how bad traveling by train is and the issues with Amtrak and its equipment and worker shortage woes, this is truly a bright and positive story of how passenger trains can and do work and people will ride the trains once decent andtimely service is offered. It really doesn’t matter how old the equipment is If it works and performs reliably and is safe and comfortable that is all that matters. Besides the older equipment was built in an age when things were built to last and were made strong Today’s new equipment don’t and won’t last 40 or 50 years like the older equipment. As it can be said They don’t make them like they used to. One more observation. Where are all the contributors to this column who are always nitpicking and badmouthing the passenger train and Amtrak in general? Funny that I don’t see those folks contributing a postive comment when there is someting good to report on passenger train travel.
Joseph C. Markfelder
While older and I know there are funds for replacement, the existing fleet is absolutely stunning and meticulously maintained. Hopefully interested parties will have the opportunity to purchase these assets once deemed surplus.
Now, a fleet upgrade would definitely help the Piedmont.