Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2014 State of North Carolina
Amtrak-North Carolina partnership
State grants help support the Piedmont, Charlotte-Raleigh State grants also help support the Carolinian, Charlotte-Raleigh-New York Over time, North Carolina has refurbished the vast majority of Amtrak stations in the state Over 83,000 North Carolina residents are members of the Amtrak Guest Rewards frequent user program
Amtrak Service & Ridership Amtrak operates four long-distance trains with stops in North Carolina:
The Crescent (daily New York-Charlotte-Atlanta-New Orleans) The Palmetto (daily New York-Savannah via Fayetteville) The Silver Meteor (daily New York-Miami via Fayetteville) The Silver Star (daily New York-Tampa-Miami via Raleigh)
Amtrak also operates the following shorter-distance, state-supported trains through North Carolina:
The Carolinian (daily New York-Richmond-Raleigh-Charlotte) The Piedmonts (twice daily Raleigh-Charlotte)
During FY14 Amtrak served the following North Carolina locations:
City Boardings + Alightings Burlington 25,934 Cary 87,548 Charlotte 194,115 Durham 83,090 Fayetteville 54,524 Gastonia 1,463 Greensboro 134,191 Hamlet 4,744 High Point 38,573 Kannapolis 18,292
Amtrak Government Affairs: November 2014 Raleigh 161,342 Rocky Mount 52,848 Salisbury 29,338 Selma-Smithfield 13,401 Southern Pines 7,210 Wilson 57,969 Total North Carolina Station Usage: 964,582 (down 1.1% from FY13) In addition to these regular, permanent stops, Amtrak trains, in connection with special events, served the North Carolina State Fair (3,633) and Lexington (489).
Procurement/Contracts Amtrak spent $77,414,338 on goods and services in North Carolina in FY14. Most of this was in the following locations:
City Amount Laurinburg $ 1,413,945 Research Triangle Park $ 72,851,995
Employment At the end of FY14, Amtrak employed 162 North Carolina residents. Total wages of Amtrak employees living in North Carolina were $12,427,451 during FY14.
PRIIA Section 209 and State-Assisted Services The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-432) required, by October 2013, an equitable arrangement of cost sharing between Amtrak and state or public agency partners that provide funding for short-distance, intercity train services. Agreements were reached with all parties, including North Carolina, by the deadline, and the services continued to run without interruption. Amtrak operates the Piedmont service between Charlotte and Raleigh under contract with the State of North Carolina. All Piedmont equipment is newly refurbished and state-owned. The state also contracts with Amtrak to operate the Carolinian, which operates with Amtrak-owned equipment. The total trip time between Raleigh and Charlotte has been cut by 1 hour, 10 minutes, due to on-going track and signal improvements over the state-owned North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) between Selma and Charlotte. The third Charlotte-Raleigh round trip (a second Piedmont train) started service on June 5, 2010.
Connecting Service In October 2012, Amtrak began two dedicated, connecting motor coach routes connecting eight eastern counties in North Carolina with Amtrak’s Palmetto service in Wilson. Since that time, these two routes have experienced a steady growth in ridership from these communities.
2 North Carolina Volunteer Train Hosts The NC Volunteer Train Host Association serves daily on the Piedmont and Carolinian, assisting passengers and providing information about services and points of interest in North Carolina.
North Carolina Train Station Attendants North Carolina station attendants meet all trains at Burlington, High Point, Salisbury, Kannapolis, and Selma to assist passengers and answer travel questions.
Station Improvements The state of North Carolina, in partnership with Amtrak and local governments, has taken the initiative to rebuild many of its historic train stations and build new ones. Recent highlights include:
Amtrak and NCDOT have jointly funded (50/50) the installation of Quik-Trak ticket machines in every North Carolina station with the exception of Gastonia. Burlington: Construction was completed in November 2011 on a 200-foot extension of the platform at the famous NCRR Shops building, which was restored by the NCRR and has served as the passenger station since 2003. The $284,000 platform extension was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Cary: The station, built in 1996, was expanded with NCDOT and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funds totaling $2,006,000 and reopened on September 1, 2011. At that time, Amtrak staffing and a Quik-Trak machine were placed into service. Checked baggage service also began at Cary for Carolinian, Piedmont, and Silver Star. Gastonia: The City is continuing to evaluate the prospects for funding and building a new multi- modal station that would be located closer to the downtown area. When complete, this structure will replace the current facility, owned by Norfolk Southern, located in the eastern part of the city. Hamlet: The former Seaboard station, built in 1900, was rededicated on October 29, 2004, after an extensive relocation and restoration project. The cost was $11.7 million, from local, state, and federal sources. A major parking expansion project was completed in 2012 with ARRA funding. High Point: The High Point passenger station was restored by the City of High Point and NCDOT at a cost of approximately $7 million and reopened for passenger service on December 9, 2003. Southern Railway originally constructed the station in 1907. ARRA funding totaling $1,865,000 was used to expand station parking, install new landscaping, and construct large retaining walls. The project was substantially complete for use on June 22, 2012. Kannapolis: A new, downtown, state and local funded, $2.7-million station opened on December 17, 2004. A new, $540,000 platform canopy was completed on August 12, 2013. Raleigh: Construction on a new Union Station is expected to begin in March 2015 and take two years. The new station would replace the existing one on Cabarrus Street, which was built by the Southern Railway in 1950 and used by Amtrak since 1986. The project is being funded by the City, NCDOT, and US Federal Railroad Administration.
3 FRA High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program
NCDOT: In February 2010, the FRA announced that the NCDOT Rail Division had been awarded $545 million for railroad improvements within the state. The funding is being used for elimination of multiple grade crossings and construction of major track and signal improvements. This work will enhance track capacity and reliability for freight and passenger operations. It also will enable the introduction of the fourth and fifth Raleigh-Charlotte round trips.
4 AMTRAK ROUTES IN NORTH CAROLINA
TO LYNCHBURG TO RICHMOND Danville Milton S parta Lowgap P elham Lansing Mount Airy P rice nt Townsville C omo G ates Moyock As he S toneville P rovidence R oanoke R apids Northampton Knotts Island Warrensville Alleghany S urry Bannertown E den S tovall Norlina Littleton Murfreesboro G ates S unbury C amden C urrituck Dobson Danbury R uffin Yanceyville Vance G arysburg S outh Mills Madison Wentworth sce Warrenton Winton C urrituck West J efferson J efferson R oxboro Middleburg G atesville P as quotank C orolla McG rady P ilot Mountain S tokes e Jackson Woodland Barco G lendale S tate R oad R eidsville P ers on Oxford Warren Halifax Hertford E lizabeth C ity C amden C as well Henderson P oplar Branch S prings King R ockingham Cr Halifax R ich S quare Ahoskie S hiloh Watauga E lkin Walnut C ove Hurdle Mills Timberlake Boone Boonville C howan Winfall G randy Beech Mountain S tokesdale S ummerfield G ranville Hollister C olerain Wilkes S tem Kittrell C enterville R oxobel Aulander Weeksville E lk P ark Banner E lk North Wilkesboro Yadkin Hertford Jarvisburg Blowing R ock Wilkesboro Yadkinville B urlington Butner E nfield P erquimans Buladean Avery G reens boro Mebane Durham Louisburg Askewville S outhern S hores C reedmoor C astalia S cotland Neck Valhalla G randfather Moravian Falls Hillsborough Whitakers B ertie Kitty Hawk Mitchell Newland Winston-S alem Fors yth Franklin Hobgood P oint Harbor Yadkin Valley G raham E denton Kill Devil Hills C rossnore Love Valley Durham Nashville Dortches Bakersville Ledger C aldwell Bermuda R un Alamance Orange Wake Forest Nags Head C edar R ock Harmony Davie Windsor Lenoir Taylorsville G uilford Nas h Mackeys C olumbia Burnsville Mocksville C hapel Hill RocTakrboyro Mount Hot S prings S pruce Hiddenite C arrboro R olesville R oper G amewell Iredell Lexington S harpsburg Manteo Walnut P ine Whitnel Alexander Williamston E ast Manns Yancey Carolinian ThomasviHlle igh Point Wake Zebulon E dgecombe P lymouth C reswell S awmills C ooleemee Liberty E lm C ity C onetoe Lake Harbor Mars Hill Woodlawn B urke Bynum Martin Tyrrell Madis on S tatesville Davids on R andolphR andleman Bethel Jamesville Marshall Morganton Valdese C ary R aleigh Dare Hickory R owan P ittsboro Beargrass Was hington Luck B uncombe McDowell R amseur Apex Wils onFalkland Weaverville Hildebran C onover S pencer S iler C ity Wils on Montreat Marion P itt S tumpy Woodfin Newton S alis bury Asheboro C layton S aratoga P ike R oad G ranite Quarry PiedmonC htatham Haywood Holly S prings Kenly Lucama G reenville P inetown P oint C atawba Mooresville Denton G oldston Farmville P antego Kilkenny R odanthe Asheville Black Mountain G lenwood Haywood Maiden R ockwell Bennett Fremont S eagrove Fuquay-Varina Winterville B eaufort Belhaven Fairfield C asar S elma S wain Waynesville C anton Biltmore Forest L incoln Davidson S anford P ikeville G reene Washington S alvo Triangle G lendon Angier J ohns ton Ayden C hocowinity Bath Hyde E ngelhard Bryson C ity C himney R ock R utherford C leveland C ornelius K annapolis R obbins Broadway S mithfield Wayne S now Hill J acks on Hazelwood Lincolnton Iron S tation C oncord L ee Lillington Fletcher P olkville S tanly S tar Four Oaks G oldsboro P amlico Beach S wanquarter Whittier Balsam C ruso G rifton S anteetlah G raham Henders on R utherfordton S pindale Huntersville Albemarle Badin Troy C arthage Olivia Avon Dillsboro S ylva G as ton C abarrus Biscoe Moore Benson B eaufort C ullowhee Hendersonville G as tonia C ameron Harnett La G range Vanceboro Aurora Lowland R obbinsville Forest C ity S helby Harrisburg Montgomery E rwin C olumbus Dunn Walnut C reek Kinston Buxton P olk Boiling S prings C raven E rnul Brevard Flat R ock Linden Newton G rove Andrews Topton Tryon G odwin Dover Kings Mountain Belmont C harlotteSouthern Pines S even S prings C ove C ity Mesic Marble Franklin G lenville Trans ylvania Norwood Wade Vandemere Hatteras R osman C edar Mountain P inehurst Falcon C alypso Mount Olive P amlico C herokee Macon G rover Mecklenburg Norman L enoir New Bern C ashiers Ansonville Aberdeen E astover Bayboro Murphy C lay Matthews E llerbe Hoke Faison Trent Woods Bridgeton P ink Hill Ocracoke Hayesville S caly Mountain Highlands P ineville Hoffman Trenton TO ATLANTA P olkton R ichmond Warsaw Oriental Monroe Wadesboro Fayetteville R ockingham R aeford Kenansville P ollocksville Marshville C linton J ones Minnesott Beach Hope Mills R oseboro Beulaville P arkton C umberland Magnolia R ichlands Maysville Waxhaw Union Ans on Morven C raven Atlantic Hamlet Jerome S amps on Duplin Fountain Havelock S ealevel McFarlan S cotland Half Moon Davis S aint P auls R ose Hill G reenevers C arteret Laurel Hill Laurinburg G arland Ons low J acksonville Newport G ibson Maxton Buie Tar Heel Harrells Wallace Morehead C ity Beaufort Willard P embroke B laden C ape C arteret Verona Atlantic Dublin White Lake Watha Maple Hill TO COLUMBIA E merald Isle Beach Lumberton E lizabethtown Dixon R obes on Burgaw S neads Ferry Bladenboro Atkinson P ender R owland C larkton Holly R idge Silver Star S aint Helena Fairmont North Topsail Beach Boardman Marietta S andyfield S urf C ity Whiteville Hampstead C hadbourn TO CHARLESTON Delco Topsail Beach Lake Waccamaw Fair Bluff Brunswick Leland Bayshore C olumbus New Hanover Silver Meteor Wilmington Wrightsville Beach Masonboro Winnabow Tabor C ity Myrtle G rove Freeland Bolivia B runs wick C arolina Beach Palmetto Boiling S pring Lakes Kure Beach TRACK OWNERSHIP S hallotte S outhport C alabash Long Beach S unset Beach Bald Head Island Amtrak NS* UP CP BNSF CN CSX Other
*Selma-Charlotte state-owned, NS-operated
--Amtrak Government Affairs, summer 2011