North Carolina NCDOT-Amtrak Carolinian Service

Bob Roberts wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 4:37 pm The area north of Greensboro is pretty empty. Reidsville might get a stop, but there are no other benefits to NC for more connectivity north of Gboro[/list]
Having said that, it seems like extending an existing Lynchburg train further South would be relatively low-impact for NS?

Sorry but both LYH trains go on to Roanoke so no extension of them. The only stop north of Greensboro would be Danville which only gets Crescent service.

Virginia subsidizes two bus routes from Danville to DC Union Station (one via US 29 and Dulles Airport and one via Richmond), each of which were used by an average of 1.6 riders daily. I think if Virginia were to add another service through Lynchburg, they would see more benefits to also sending that train to Roanoke than to sending it through Danville.

I also think that the amount of traffic Raleigh generates north bound on the Carolinian and Silver Star suggests that if NC were to run another NY to Charlotte train, they would see more benefits by running that train through Raleigh than through Lynchburg.

RandallW wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 5:41 pm I also think that the amount of traffic Raleigh generates north bound on the Carolinian and Silver Star suggests that if NC were to run another NY to Charlotte train, they would see more benefits by running that train through Raleigh than through Lynchburg.

IMO you are correct. That is why I've often said a day train from ATL northbound should follow the route of the Carolinian. CLT and north. Yes Danville has about 42k population but the potential of all the population of an ATL service thru Raleigh is maybe 20 times that number.

Bob Roberts wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 4:37 pm

Arlington wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 4:17 pm Is there yet any appetite for a WAS-CLT day train on the route of the Crescent ? Is that just too big affront to points east of GRO to envision a train that NC & VA should be thrilled collaborate on?

It really has not been mentioned at all. I think the option gets ignored because:

• The political center of the state's gravity is definitely between Raleigh and the A-Line cities

• The area north of Greensboro is pretty empty. Reidsville might get a stop, but there are no other benefits to NC for more connectivity north of Gboro

• I don't think NCDOT feels it has much to gain by sponsoring more trips out of state, especially when those trains have relatively few stops inside NC. Such a train would also eat up a long bridge slot -- something that is still scarce, even after after the new bridge is built

• I suspect the biggest reason is NCDOT does not want to antagonize NS by suggesting more passenger traffic on their main. NCDOT would probably prefer to keep their powder dry for more NCRR service

Having said that, it seems like extending an existing Lynchburg train further South would be relatively low-impact for NS?

Bob makes some really good points here. Instead of pushing for more long distances to interface with a really good example of a three-hour corridor, we should learn what works here and apply it elsewhere. States with 3-5 cities within three rail hours of each other and a already existing well-built mainline.

RandallW wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 5:41 pm Virginia subsidizes two bus routes from Danville to DC Union Station (one via US 29 and Dulles Airport and one via Richmond), each of which were used by an average of 1.6 riders daily.

A new spin on 1-a-day service!

RandallW wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 5:41 pm Virginia subsidizes two bus routes from Danville to DC Union Station (one via US 29 and Dulles Airport and one via Richmond), each of which were used by an average of 1.6 riders daily.

https://drpt.virginia.gov/data/performa ... dashboard/
Part of what's wrong with the Danville route is that it is a dangling end. Looks like for FY2024 it was 1.1 per day on the US29 route and 2 per day on the Richmond route. It'd be much easier to fill a bidirectional route that had GRO/CLT as a southern anchor (and thereby served things like UVA/Liberty to the Carolinas) than to ask "how many people want to go to Danville?"