Area train riders can look forward to more reliable trains and faster commute times thanks to an agreement between N.C. and Norfolk Southern Railway Co., N.C. Railroad Co., and Amtrak.
The agreement, approved by the Federal Railroad Administration, allows construction to begin on the state’s rail modernization program. It releases $461 million in federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will pay for upgrades to tracks between the state’s two largest cities, Raleigh and Charlotte, bridges and crossing safety improvements, station expansions in four cities along that path and construction of a maintenance facility in Charlotte, according to a press release.
The funding will also enable North Carolina to improve the speed and reliability of passenger service, add a fourth daily round trip between Charlotte and Raleigh in coming years and refurbish locomotives and rail cars, according to Joan Bagherpour, Marketing Manager of the NCDOT Rail Division.
Bagherpour said the construction of 20 to 30 miles of double track between Greensboro and Charlotte, means a trip from Raleigh to Charlotte, which currently lasts about three hours, would be about 10 to 15 minutes shorter.
“In addition to more reliable train times, everyone will have more trains to choose from, especially when considering Raleigh-Charlotte trips,” Bagherpour said.
Brian O’Sullivan, NCSU DOT Assistant Director for Planning and Operations, said the majority of the high-speed rail money would be spent toward the Charlotte end. Improvements on the Wake County sections would be minor, such as improvements to track switches, communications and ongoing maintenance costs.
“There’s not a lot of physical work in the Wake County portion of the main line, which comes right through [NCSU’s] campus,” O’Sullivan said. “No new tracks would be laid down in the that section.”
This main line connects Washington D.C., Richmond, Raleigh and Charlotte.
O’Sullivan also said the decrease in commute time is due speeds being increased from an average of 79 mph to 90 mph, still a far cry from the speeds found in European high-speed rail systems, which reach upwards of 200 mph.
The other aspect would be increased frequency of both freight and passenger trains that pass through campus. O’Sullivan said the number of trains could increase from two a day to three or four trains a day.
However, O’Sullivan said he thinks the increased frequency will not be significant, at least in the near future.
“I don’t think the environmental impact in terms of noise are going to be that dramatically different,” O’Sullivan said. “This could be a different story in ten years if there are commuter trains zipping from Durham to Raleigh and light rail trains zipping from Cary to North Raleigh. That will definitely change the physical amount and look of the track.”
O’Sullivan also said the federally allocated money for rail isn’t necessarily hurting funds for other transit systems like the Wolfline, which is almost entirely funded through student fees and parking permit revenue.
O’Sullivan said he thinks it will take a dedicated tax for dramatic expansions in N.C. transit systems to occur.
North Carolina has already received $59 million of the Recovery grants and put it to use by adding a third daily round trip between Raleigh and Charlotte, purchasing equipment, and upgrading stations in Cary, Burlington, High Point and Kannapolis.
