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Traveling by train continues to increase in North Carolina

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published March 19, 2024 at 4:08 AM EDT
Passengers wait to board a Piedmont train at the station in Greensboro N.C.
NCDOT
Passengers wait to board a Piedmont train at the station in Greensboro N.C.

Traveling by train continues to increase in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation says the state’s intercity passenger rail service carried more than 101,000 people in the first months of this year, 18,000 more than in the same two months last year.

That’s a 21% increase over 2023 and a 65% increase over pre-pandemic passenger totals.

Jason Orthner, director of NCDOT’s Rail Division, said investments in expanding service, improving infrastructure and advancing new projects is paying off, and the continued growth in NC By Train ridership shows that.

According to a recent report by Amtrak, Virginia and North Carolina are among its busiest stations in the Southeast.

For web, photo:

 

Passengers wait to board a Piedmont train at the station in Greensboro N.C.

Credit NCDOT
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
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