Charlotte to Raleigh by Train 

Thank you for posting this video! I’m looking forward to my first Amtrak trip in almost 50 years - a day trip from Norfolk to D.C. Fingers crossed for cleaner windows!

They are currently building a modern train station in Uptown Charlotte called Gateway Station. By the way, the Carolinian and Piedmont are part of Amtrak's state owned routes. The state of NC is responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of the trains, not Amtrak themselves. State supported routes are on the Amtrak system but managed, and financed by the states themselves. The Fed does not finance routes less than 750 miles in lenght.

Update: The Piedmont route has been expanded to now have 4 daily round trips between Charlotte and Raleigh, or 8 one-way trips total. North Carolina is looking to expand rail travel in the state even further by adding a direct route from Raleigh to Richmond as well as connect the mountains and coast with an Asheville-to-Salisbury route and a Raleigh-to-Wilmington route.

I have taken the Carolinian all the way from Kannapolis to NYC and earlier to Philadelphia. Between 2010 and the present I have done day trips to Raleigh with different sets of friends, taking the Carolinian back. That leaves plenty of time to visit the museums downtown, etc.

I just stumbled across this video. I live about an hour away from Charlotte. This is a trip I may have to take sometime. I subscribed and look forward to checking out other videos from you.

Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. It is always great to hear the perspective of someone who visits Raleigh. Hope your trips are always safe and pleasant!

Montreal Expos hat. Nice touch!

This train stops at Kannapolis, not Concord.

The story of “Carbine” Williams is especially interesting. I really enjoy the Natural History Museum as well. The state art museum is in the western part of the city. One can get to there by Uber, so maybe I’ll do a train trip there some time instead of driving.

I live in Los Angeles, California and the windows on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner trains and the Metrolink trains (not Amtrak) are the same with that kind of foggy cloudly look to them. I think most trains are like that from traveling and weather conditions along routes. Raleigh Union Station is very nice, but very modern compared to Los Angeles Union Station which opened in 1939 and has fourteen tracks and still looks and feels like 1939 inside the station. But the Raleigh Union Stations did a good job with the modern look as it’s modern yet still feels like a train station.

I fly into Charlotte from Columbus, OH then take the train up to visit friends in Salisbury. This is a super convenient set up! 👍

Another great video

Great video!

My prediction is that the northeast corridor will eventually turn into a continous service running from boston to atlanta. It seems that every section between dc and atlanta has some plans to upgrade, so i think its inevitable.

WOW Brian.....this is soooo good....I know PopPaw would be so proud of you, as I am!!!!!! Thank you!!!

Pretty cool, glad you had fun 😊😊

Nice trip, thank you.

👍👍

Loved your video! What a pleasant trip. We are taking the train to Raleigh also, but I am not sure if the Raleigh station has long-term parking? Do you recall, and can you please reply if you know. This would be for several days. Thanks. This was such a nice video. I liked also what you said about business class -- not only good leg room, but more importantly is the fact that it looks quiet because not so many people are in that section. I'm going to bring window cleaner and see if I'll be allowed to wash the outside of our window ...... lol ....... and a few others if they'll allow it. That was an excellent point.

Great video

Since Raleigh has high platforms bring your own window cleaner after you've selected your seat. I used to clean windows for passengers when I could when I was Amtrak conductor.

Very nice video

It looked a bit cold and rainy. I hope you will do it again maybe in the fall, and may stop in Greensboro to show off another city. Is there a train that goes to Asheville, NC. Thanks James In Raleigh.

Hello, I'm worried about the parking at the charlotte station. I have looked it up and a lot of people are saying it isn't safe to leave your car parked there. I know they are working on getting a better station but it is not done yet. Do you have any information on that?

Charlotte Station looks very similar to the Staples Mill Station in Richmond/Henrico area.

Hi, I am new to your channel, I am planning to take this same route during christmas. My friends in the US have no idea about rail travel. On the internet some mention that these trains can derail and never punctual and it is better to take a flight. Hence, I looked for a video on yt of the route and found yours. Such a nice video but Now I am utterly confused. Are these trains safe for families and children to travel? Especially if only coach seats are available?

What is the parking like at CLT ? is it paid parking ? is the parking per hour ? Just wondering

Nice time you had 👏. How many hours are this leg?

How much does it cost to go round trip from Raleigh to Charlotte?

I hope you write Amtrak and complain about filthy windows which are a system wide problem.

You know they being the Charlotte Gateway station you're going to be real better than Raleigh North Carolina that you know that right and going to take 2025 to finish

I did it a few years ago and liked it, except for the gypsy caravans that stopped the train en route and tried to sell us rabbit skins and silk stockings

Wish they had auto train from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach

Great video!!