CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The number of people riding Amtrak's passenger train service in North Carolina continues to rise, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
In January and February, 101,000 people rode either the Piedmont or Carolinian service, according to the NC DOT. That represents a 21% increase in ridership compared to the same time period last year. Compared to the 2019 numbers pre-pandemic, the service is seeing 65% more ridership.
“It’s exciting that North Carolinians are using the train service more than ever,” Jason Orthner, the director of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division, said in a released statement.
Charlotte was named the third busiest Amtrak station in the Southeast, according to a report issued last month. The station saw 281,220 riders in 2023. Only Richmond and Alexandra in Virginia saw more passengers regionally.
Charlotte is the orienting point for the Carolinian, a daily train running from North Carolina to the Northeast. Charlotte also sees five roundtrip trains daily to Raleigh, with stops in cities including Cary, Durham, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury and Kannapolis. Amtrak's Crescent train, which runs between New York City and New Orleans, also stops in Charlotte.
“Investments in expanding service, improving infrastructure and advancing new projects is paying off, and the continued growth in NC By Train ridership shows that," Orthner said in his statement.
Last year, Amtrak and the North Carolina Department of Transportation announced a fifth train connecting some of North Carolina's major cities will be added to the timetable.
Amtrak is also considering expanding North Carolina service to cities including Asheville and Wilmington.
Rail acquisitions by the states of North Carolina and Virginia will also open a new corridor for passenger trains between Raleigh and Richmond, respectively. Once open, it's expected to reduce travel time.
Test train arrives at Charlotte's Gateway Station
Charlotte is also expected to build a new Amtrak station in the years ahead. The Gateway project is expected to move the city's passenger train station into Uptown Charlotte, where it will be within walking distance of Bank of America stadium, Truist Field, and other attractions. The station is also expected to provide connections to local transportation, including the CATS CityLYNX gold line street car and transit buses.