METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Proposed N. Carolina commuter rail service would cost $1B

If a Goldsboro to Greensboro commuter plan were implemented on the NCRR corridor, trains would make 29 stops in seven counties with a total population of more than 2 million, with 18 colleges and universities within two miles of the rail lines.

October 9, 2008
3 min to read


The North Carolina Railroad Co. (NCRR) released an 11-month study today that concludes that rush-hour commuter trains can operate on NCRR tracks along with freight trains from Greensboro to Goldsboro.

As part of its Vision 2030 planning, NCRR commissioned engineering firm HNTB to determine if commuter and freight trains could coexist on NCRR tracks, and the infrastructure costs that doing so would incur. HNTB studied possible commuter trains operating in four segments between Goldsboro and Greensboro, and Chapel Hill. Commuter trains typically run in the morning and afternoon rush hours and once mid-day over long distances.

Ad Loading...

Total infrastructure costs for new tracks, sidings and bridges along the 141-miles would be $650 million, and equipment and support facilities are estimated at $350 million. Commuter rail on the NCRR could be implemented in less expensive phases according to ridership demand.

 "...some sections could open for commuter trains faster than others," Bill Kincheloe, chairman of the NCRR Board of Directors, emphasized. "However, if communities prefer light rail on dedicated track, this would not preclude that approach. Commuter rail offers an alternative approach that could be a good first step."

If a Goldsboro to Greensboro commuter plan were implemented on the NCRR corridor, trains would make 29 stops in seven counties with a total population of more than 2 million, with 18 colleges and universities within two miles of the rail lines.

Detailed studies on ridership and operating costs would have to be conducted. But knowing that freight and commuter trains can coexist was a key question that had to be answered before anyone could try to establish commuter trains, Kincheloe said.

NCRR owns the 317-mile rail line between Morehead City and Charlotte. Existing freight service, operated by Norfolk Southern, already touches 24 percent of the state’s economy and is projected to increase. NCRR President Scott Saylor said that based on the HNTB study, he is optimistic that commuter and freight service could also coexist on the Greensboro to Charlotte sections of the rail line, but that further studies would be needed.

Ad Loading...

"North Carolina could become a national leader in commuter rail," Saylor said. "This design for commuter trains could be implemented without buying new right-of-way. That’s a significant cost advantage."

Regional organizations and local governments throughout much of the state are interested in establishing rail services.

"The NCRR line touches many of those local efforts, but it will need to be a team effort," said Saylor. "Connecting municipal bus systems also would be required for commuter rail to succeed."

In recent years, NCRR, Norfolk Southern and the NC Department of Transportation have invested nearly $60 million straightening curves, adding tracks, and making other improvements between Goldsboro and Greensboro. Along the entire NCRR corridor they will make $161 million in improvements by 2012, but more tracks would be needed.

"The 21st Century Transportation Committee’s recommendations may include ways for local governments to pay for capital investments for commuter rail if they so choose," Saylor said.

Topics:Rail

More Rail

Aerial view of Caltrain's electric service.
Railby StaffJune 5, 2026

Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures

The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.

Read More →
Alstom purchasing site for Acela network manufacturing
Railby StaffJune 4, 2026

Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet

The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.

Read More →
World Cup Crowds Will Test Transit Systems
ManagementJune 3, 2026

When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A rendering of a California High-Speed Rail vehicle
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract

The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.

Read More →
Sound Transit Sounder train
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service

Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.

Read More →
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

Alstom Partners With Universities to Build Rail Talent Pipeline

The partnerships include a new engineering scholarship fund at Alfred State College in Western New York and collaborations with transportation centers at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Managementby StaffJune 1, 2026

Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin

Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.

Read More →
Managementby StaffMay 29, 2026

Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan

The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.

Read More →
An EMBARK bus going down the street.
Managementby Alex RomanMay 28, 2026

Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership

The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Managementby StaffMay 27, 2026

North Carolina's Metropolitan Transit Commission Concludes Decades of Leadership

To commemorate the occasion, current members of the MTC were presented with a custom painting of the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown.

Read More →