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!
@@cfishel15 Thank you so much for watching I really appreciate it! I hope you enjoy your trip, time flies by on the ride, and yes fingers crossed you will have cleaner windows than I have!
@@cfishel15 please check out my more recent videos, I did a 30-day train ride across the country this summer and I'm releasing a new video every Wednesday. I hope you will subscribe to my channel and go check out some of the other videos, they are actually much better than this video!
Thanks for sharing your trip! I've booked my first train ride from Kannapolis to Greensboro for the day, in a couple weeks, and I'm super excited. I'm 40+ and this is my first train ride 😁 Your video helped me better know what to expect 😊
@@denish1 thank you so much, I am so glad it helped! That is so exciting, your first train ride! That is a short but sweet ride, I am sure you will love it. Please check out my other videos, as I have a 20 part series from my 30 day train trip throughout America posted from this past summer.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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'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!
@@HarryJohnJamesJosephJRIVKearns haha thank you! I was never an exposed fan, but I love the hat! When I wear that hat you would not believe the number of comments I get in person!
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.
@@bedinskiboi that would be absolutely outstanding! With such a population increase throughout the Southeast along that line I think that would be great! That would help me out too, living in Charlotte
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.
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!
@@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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
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
I rode the Amtrak in June 2024 from Charlotte to Raleigh. It was my very first Amtrak Train Ride. I highly enjoyed it.
🚂 👍🙂
@@MajesticMe429 thank you for sharing! I am glad you enjoyed it, I agree, it is alot of fun!
Great Video 👍
Thank you! If you enjoy trains, please check out my 20-Part Great American Rail Journey series I created this summer!
th-cam.com/video/p8RE4FU6ruU/w-d-xo.html
This train stops at Kannapolis, not Concord.
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!
@@cfishel15 Thank you so much for watching I really appreciate it! I hope you enjoy your trip, time flies by on the ride, and yes fingers crossed you will have cleaner windows than I have!
@@cfishel15 please check out my more recent videos, I did a 30-day train ride across the country this summer and I'm releasing a new video every Wednesday. I hope you will subscribe to my channel and go check out some of the other videos, they are actually much better than this video!
Thanks for sharing your trip! I've booked my first train ride from Kannapolis to Greensboro for the day, in a couple weeks, and I'm super excited. I'm 40+ and this is my first train ride 😁 Your video helped me better know what to expect 😊
@@denish1 thank you so much, I am so glad it helped! That is so exciting, your first train ride! That is a short but sweet ride, I am sure you will love it.
Please check out my other videos, as I have a 20 part series from my 30 day train trip throughout America posted from this past summer.
@@carolinatopshotstravels Oh wow, that sounds like such a great time! Will do 🙂
Great video, thank you for sharing!!
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.
This is exciting, thank you for sharing!
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.
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.
How's the new gateway Station coming along!!
@@leonation89 State of North Carolina has built the platform for the station, but the city is dragging its heels on the station itself.
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.
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!
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!
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'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!
Another great video
@@BenAdam-n2u thanks bro
I fly into Charlotte from Columbus, OH then take the train up to visit friends in Salisbury. This is a super convenient set up! 👍
Montreal Expos hat. Nice touch!
@@HarryJohnJamesJosephJRIVKearns haha thank you! I was never an exposed fan, but I love the hat! When I wear that hat you would not believe the number of comments I get in person!
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 😊😊
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.
@@bedinskiboi that would be absolutely outstanding! With such a population increase throughout the Southeast along that line I think that would be great! That would help me out too, living in Charlotte
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.
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!
@@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.
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.
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?
Great video!!
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.
There's not currently a train that runs to Asheville but they're trying to see about if they can actually do one.
Great video
Charlotte Station looks very similar to the Staples Mill Station in Richmond/Henrico area.
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.
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.
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?
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.
What is the parking like at CLT ? is it paid parking ? is the parking per hour ? Just wondering
No charge for parking at the station. It has limited parking but I didn't have any trouble finding a space.
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
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.
@@leecline5759 you are correct. Took a trip a few months ago Raleigh did charge for parking it appeared
@@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.
👍👍
Nice time you had 👏. How many hours are this leg?
Usually a touch longer than 3 hours.
How much does it cost to go round trip from Raleigh to Charlotte?
Dynamic pricing.
Around $50.
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
2028 is the soonest date I've heard recently, but I've also heard talk about a temporary station being built so who knows.
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!