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Ridership for the first two months of 2024 is up 21% over last year

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RALEIGH – The state’s intercity passenger rail service carried over 101,000 people in the first months of this year, compared with 83,000 riders in the same two months last year. That difference represents a 21% increase over 2023 and a 65% increase over pre-pandemic passenger totals of 61,000 in 2019.

“It’s exciting that North Carolinians are using the train service more than ever,” said Jason Orthner, director of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division. “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. Boosting that popularity are NC By Train’s Piedmont and Carolinian train services, which provide 10 trips daily between Raleigh and Charlotte with stops at points in between, and the continuation of the Carolinian north with stops in Virginia, Washington D.C. and New York.

Springtime Fares to Ballparks

Spring is the perfect opportunity to try the train. In addition to concerts, festivals and events, NC By Train is partnering with local sports teams to get riders out to the ball game. People can take the train for the opening weekend to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on April 7th, and to the High Point Rockers on May 12th, for games sponsored by NC By Train. Buy your game ticket at the stadium on April 7th and show your train ticket to receive a special discount.

NCDOT encourages people to take advantage of the safe, comfortable, and convenient transportation available on NC By Train with its large seats, charging outlets at each seat and free WiFi. NC By Train offers a variety of everyday discounts for children, students, active military personnel, veterans and seniors and Share Fare, which allows groups of up to eight people to save money with each additional ticket that is purchased.

Taking NC By Train is an environmentally friendly and sustainable transportation choice that helps reduce congestion on the state’s highway system. Skip the traffic and hassles of parking and take the train to a variety of events.

Visit NC By Train for more information, to plan a trip and to buy tickets.