Charlotte to Raleigh by Train

I took the Amtrak Carolinian from Charlotte to Raleigh on Presidents Day, 2023. My train left the Queen City at 6:45 AM and arrived in Raleigh around 10:15 AM. I spent the day in the capital city of North Carolina, before returning to Charlotte on the Piedmont. The Piedmont left Raleigh at 3:00 PM and arrived back in Charlotte promptly at 6:15 PM.

[@Christopher_TG]

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.

[@carolinatopshotstravels]

This is exciting, thank you for sharing!

[@ErnestPecounis]

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!

[@gossettcd]

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.

[@leonation89]

How's the new gateway Station coming along!!

[@Christopher_TG]

@@leonation89 State of North Carolina has built the platform for the station, but the city is dragging its heels on the station itself.

[@leecline5759]

The Carolinian uses Amfleet coaches and runs up to New York, and Amtrak is in charge of maintaining those trains. The Piedmont uses state owned and maintained coaches.

[@horseshoe_nc]

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.

[@carolinatopshotstravels]

Thank you very much!

[@tommybrill9107]

This train stops at Kannapolis, not Concord.

[@clearlycaribbeanreb2895]

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

[@Anthony-xe5db]

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.

[@carolinatopshotstravels]

I'm hoping to take the America rail pass this summer and travel on different routes and go through Los Angeles a few times on the coast starlight in southwest chief! Thank you for your input, much appreciated!

[@michaelmcglothlin4786]

Great video!

[@BenAdam-n2u]

Another great video

[@carolinatopshotstravels]

@@BenAdam-n2u thanks bro

[@peters1127]

👍👍

[@joycemayhew8025]

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

[@gordonsnell6735]

Pretty cool, glad you had fun 😊😊

[@tonypearce1876]

Nice trip, thank you.

[@jacquihughes6172]

Great video

[@rseymour1295]

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.

[@carolinatopshotstravels]

Thank you for the kind words! I looked online and see there is a garage called "The Car Park" about a block east of the station. I saw on Google reviews that others parked there for several nights while taking the train. I hope that helps!

[@rseymour1295]

@@carolinatopshotstravels Oh, thank you! Yes, that does help. I am new to living in the area so this is all very helpful. Also, I forgot to say that I really enjoyed all the places you saw while in Raleigh. Loved the museum, and the "bowl" that you ate. It was all just very interesting. LOL. Thank you again.

[@teresadavenport8094]

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?

[@tammier8860]

Very nice video

[@samtrak1204]

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.

[@davidburchell2882]

Wish they had auto train from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach

[@jameskantor0459]

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.

[@leecline5759]

There's not currently a train that runs to Asheville but they're trying to see about if they can actually do one.

[@leonation89]

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

[@leecline5759]

It was built in the 60s by Norfolk Southern. It's getting ready to be replaced with a brand new station soon so they're not putting much money into it.

[@magicbox6784]

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?

[@carolinatopshotstravels]

Yes, this same route seems to be very safe and nice for families with children. It is a short ride, only about 3 hours long and I believe three trains per day run in each direction.

[@AxiomsMedia]

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

[@carolinatopshotstravels]

No charge for parking at the station. It has limited parking but I didn't have any trouble finding a space.

[@AxiomsMedia]

Awesome@@carolinatopshotstravels going on my first Ride ever from CLT to RDU to go see a friend excited. BTW i recently saw the Crescent 19 go bye where i work, and it had one of the new ALC-42s on it ( 338 ) Was nice to see

[@leecline5759]

To the best of my knowledge Raleigh is the only station on the Piedmont route that charges for parking. Most stations have a free parking pass for overnight parking.

[@AxiomsMedia]

@@leecline5759 you are correct. Took a trip a few months ago Raleigh did charge for parking it appeared

[@leecline5759]

@@AxiomsMedia last I heard the city was trying to negotiate a reduced rate for Amtrak customers but I am unsure if anything ever came of that.

[@ricardofonseca1970]

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

[@leecline5759]

Usually a touch longer than 3 hours.

[@Susan.I]

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

[@martinc.720]

Dynamic pricing.

[@Christopher_TG]

Around $50.

[@samtrak1204]

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

[@jarvisstradford7211]

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

[@leecline5759]

2028 is the soonest date I've heard recently, but I've also heard talk about a temporary station being built so who knows.

[@johnl5316]

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

[@mrs.bojajcharlottencrealto1629]

Great video!!