This is the kind of service the USA should be focusing to expand rail passenger traffic. These medium distance trains can be the most profitable if they are focused on reliability and ON-TIME performance!

You crossed the 8 foot 11 bridge!!!

Wish other state DOTs would follow North Carolinas lead as state supported services expand. Those coaches look way nicer than the horizons across much of the midwest.

In college, before I had a car, I regularly rode the train between Raleigh and High Point. At the time, there was only one Piedmont train each day - departing from Raleigh in the morning and arriving in Raleigh in the evening. If I needed to leave Raleigh in the evening, then I took the Carolinian. I was never a big fan of the Carolinian, which is why I only rode it twice. The Carolinian used standard Amtrak rolling stock, which I thought was dark and dingy compared to the bright and clean interior of the Piedmont train. The Carolinian was also more crowded, and both times I rode it, it was late. You can hardly tell that the Piedmont cars were originally built in the 1950s and 1960s because they are refurbished so well. The old Raleigh station was a complete dump, and it only had one side platform, so if a train was stuck at the station for any reason (happened to me once), then everyone got delayed. The new Raleigh station is LONG overdue. The High Point station is a very nice station that is over 100 years old and was refurbished in the early 2000s. I hope that Amtrak and NCDOT continues to invest in rail, especially as the existing roads like I-40 and I-85 become more and more congested. I would also like to see more cities serviced by rail, including Winston-Salem, Wilmington, Asheville, and Greenville, which are the 5th, 8th, 11th, and 12th largest municipalities in North Carolina, respectively.

It would be good if they get the new Charlotte station built. The current station is in a mostly inconvenient area north of downtown. There are not good mass transit connections to it, as the light rail is on the other side of the rail yard and not connected to the station. Hopefully this new downtown station will let passengers get to their destinations more easily and be better connected to the rest of the city's mass transit network, which is expanding.

Yes! This is my home passenger service as I’m from Greensboro right along the route. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve ridden one of their trains but the cleanliness, comfort and NCDOT’s overall dedication to rail travel always amazes me.

Fun fact: NC ferries are named after schools in the university system. I love that the state names its transit after itself!

Very nice. The new station in Raleigh was repurposed from a ball-bearing factory. The lounge cars were built by St Louis Car in 1953 for the US Army as hospital cars. The State of North Carolina has suspended further refurbishment of old rolling stock and has offered unrebuilt equipment for sale in anticipation of everything being replaced by new Venture trainsets. (You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.)

Actually, some of the Cafe Cars date from 1949, making them the oldest active passenger cars in North America

Hats off to NCDOT! Those refurbished carriages are incredibly nice. Thank you for the video!

That station is a lot bigger and better than the station in Rayleigh, Essex, UK.

NCRR owns the ROW, Norfolk Southern has a lease to use and maintain. Something quite unique.

It will be nice to see the new Charlotte station finally built. I lived in Charlotte in the early '90s and they were discussing a new station back then.

I live in Raleigh and my family uses this regularly to go to and from Charlotte for day trips. It’s fast and easy and usually coming home we can nap. The train is much faster than driving to Raleigh even with all the stops. I can’t wait for gateway station to open in Charlotte!

(15:20) Metallic surfaces are always better against microbes and bacteria than plastic. Silver has the best antibacterial effect. - Cheers, Heinz

The tracks are owned by the North Carolina Railroad, which has been owned by the state government since they chartered it in 1849. It was leased to Norfolk Southern (and it's predecessors) from 1871 to 1999. Since then, Norfolk Southern has operated and maintained the line on behalf of the state in exchange for trackage rights. It being single-tracked with passing siddings, you have to stop to let others pass.

The NCDOT supports this service. The entire area benefits. Thank you Thibault for sharing with us.👍👍💚💚😄😄

Good to see you made it to Raleigh for NC's regional service - the new station is great and we're looking forward to the re-activation of the old higher speed Seaboard S-line up to DC. Too bad about the weather during your visit - it's rather pleasant most other days of the year here!

In Japan, the distance would cost about $70, so I envy you for being able to travel so cheaply.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS HE DID NC TRAINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I live close to Charlotte and see the Piedmont go by all the time 🙋🏻‍♀️ I can't wait for the Gateway Station to open so I can take the train all the way into Uptown to shop & hang out, especially when there are festivals and special events. It was nice to see the trip from Raleigh to here and a very nice review of those great retro cars! Thank you!

THAT'S why they look so distinguished, they're actually pre-Amtrak cars! Absolutely amazing NCDOT chose these Also using the train's Wi-Fi to read up _about_ the train, very nice. I did the same thing when I took the Capitol Limited to Chicago

This is my home state. I've had this train on my bucket list for ever. Now I'm going to ride!

This video is extremely well done. I have taken the Piedmont from Salisbury to Raleigh several times, and your information is 100% correct. It's a wonderful route and a great experience. Nice job!

I love everything this train has to offer. Best I have seen so far on your journeys across America. Even the long haul trains aren't this nice. Would love to travel on this route some time soon.

This is a train I would take a lot when I was attending the university in Charlotte and heading home to Greensboro actually. In fact there was a ticket discount for all the college students who lived on campus. Just like you, there were a lot good features that I benefited from as a student. I am very happy to hear that you enjoyed this convenient service I my state. Something to mention is that the rail yard in Greensboro you pointed out is actually for the rail maintenance equipment storage. The actual Greensboro rail yard was further down the line after that. You should also check out the Greensboro station, it’s interior is much bigger than the Charlotte or Raleigh stations. If I had known that you were going to review this route, I would’ve been happy to record your train passing by. Anyway, thanks for this great content.

9:31 Heading into Mebane, NC. Brief shot of Oakwood Cemetery and ending at Buffaloe Lanes Bowling alley. I typically see this train a couple of times a day when I'm heading into or out of Durham.

We of North Carolina thank you for your praise. I remember the day of your trip very clearly.

Besides coaches from UP and KCS, there are baggage lounge cars rebuilt from US Army medical services cars. The Kansas City Southern cars previously belonged to Chicago & North Western, then NJ Transit. The F59 units were from GO Transit in Toronto. NCDOT bought additional cars from Ringling Bros Circus plus it's parts inventory. However, NCDOT may be slated to get some of Amtrak's new Siemens cars. The Circus cars were never rebuilt and were listed for auction sale by the state late last year, no takers. CORRECTION: the Kansas City Southern cars were built by Pullman Standard in 1965, the last ever railroad intercity cars in the US. The UP cars were built by St Louis Car Co just before.

Really interesting the way you detail your location on the train. Very unique and informative. I think I will subscribe and see more. Thanks.

I live in Raleigh, but I haven't been to the new station yet. I will have to check it out!

Really cool to see my state featured in a travel video!

Hello! Glad to have had you in North Carolina, and you are always welcome to come back. North Carolina's train system was what "awoke" the Rip Van Winkle State up in the mid-1800s right before the Civil War. Gov. Morehead (whose home was in Greensboro NC, and is now a museum Blandwood) is the Father of the North Carolina Railroad system. He pushed the train systems forward, realizing that the trains would help boost the North Carolina sleepy economy into overdrive. From that point forward NC has had a massive gain in our economy as opposed to how we were originally in the 13 colonies. North Carolina historically owes a great deal to the train systems.

Surely, one of the best operators in the USA!

My wife and I took this train a few times. Bring a blanket for naps. Great train.w

I have been waiting for you to do this video for quite a while. I'll. It's a very unique train service and I used to live in North Carolina so it makes stops in a town I used to live and I have taken it to Charlotte plenty of times. Very comfortable mostly on time and has pretty good ridership

I dispatch this train between Raleigh and Cary 5 days a week. Glad you enjoyed your trip! 👍🏼👍🏼

Whoa, that was really unique! The rolling stock is peculiar but in a nice way. I really don’t know NC so I had no idea they had this service, and $27 for a 170 mile ride is pretty good.

By the looks of the exterior, I think I'd agree that the Emerald coach is one of the formerly UP 44 seat coaches. Very comfortable ride as I recall from early Amtrak experiences. Keep up the great work. Love the videos.

My state! Cool trip! Unfortunately, that corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte along I40/I85 is probably on of the least aesthetically pleasing areas of this beautiful state, but you can’t have everything!

No way! I caught your train on video passing a crossing! I wish I could send it to you! Loved the video

I really like seeing those old smooth side coaches. Most cars of that type and vintage have rusted away. I’m surprised to see them.

I would’ve gone with the tater skins over the Doritos but that’s just me. Great video once again!

Another high quality video. Your work is very good.

I just discovered your channel. I live in Arizona. Between 2009 and 2013 I lived in Germany and loved taking the trains around Europe. Many wonderful memories of the trains and train stations. Went to Paris by car but I wish we had taken the train as Paris traffic was terrible :-). I really like your video's so I subscribed. I've watched 3 tonight. Bon Chance!

Glad that you rode the Piedmont. In North Carolina, we’re hoping for expanded service to Asheville and Wilmington, and perhaps, newer rolling stock.

What a beautiful train station in Raleigh

Absolutely loved this train ride! It has been added to my bucket list 👌 Many thanks!

I’m glad to see your comment regarding the coffee. When I worked Onboard Services on The AutoTrain, (October 1995-March 1997) they started replacing the brewed coffee with coffee machines in this video. I wasn’t crazy about it either. I’m not sure if they went back to brewed coffee

Damn...you were in my city, Raleigh-that’s dope!😂

I like the color and the print of the seats. When I worked for Amtrak, I didn’t travel (on vacation) by train much other than through the Northeast Corridor

I live in Cary myself. I used the service 2 years ago to go to the Lexington BBQ festival. They open a station in Lexington which is between the High Point and Salisbury stations on that 1 day. Speaking of Salisbury that is where Cheerwine was first produced. Thats why you saw it in the vending machines.

Great vid Thibault

Thank you for showing the older train coaches and rural North Carolina. 👍😀

Wow, this train looks cool

Yes, thank you for visiting my home state!

Very interesting addition of snack and drink vending machines on the Piedmont. Very Renfe if i may say so

A Frenchman in N Carolina...Just awesome!

Actually snack machines on American trains aren't unique or new. Amtrak had them once between Chicago and Grand Rapids and the Southern Pacific also operated them in the 1960's. While they certainly save on labor and food costs, they do often break down.

Hi: Thank you for this trip report! I grew up near Charlotte and worked in Raleigh area but retired and started traveling and never saw the new union station in Raleigh. It was just a dream when I left town. I have traveled on the Piedmont to Charlotte and back and took my kids on a trip from Raleigh to Durham so they could experience a real train..... NOT THOMAS! PS: think about bumping your text up a bit. I have to pause the video, Close the ad which blocks the text and read and restart the video...Just a suggestion for the end user experience.

I thought the Piedmont rolling stock ride like a dream when I rode it a few years ago. Better than the Amfleet coach I ride in on the Carolinian a few days before.

excellent coverage of a well run niche service

The decor is straight out of a 1990s DB InterRegio carriage!

Wow! This is what I expect from USA. This level of comfort even better than British or Chinese trains for a short distance trip and very affordable too. Best wishes to the American People. Now please support these endeavors so that more can come as it becomes a profitable mode for transport.

These videos always bring a smile to my face!

I do love those old cars and large windows. Smol windows on a train never made any sense to me. Love that weather as well.

You should check out the NC Transport Museum in Spencer (near Salisbury). Lots of history!

This was excellent. I am taking this NC RR to Charlotte in 2 weeks to visit my husband who is working there. I am traveling from Wilmington, NC, to Cary as transportation here sucks. I would drive to Charlotte, but The Collective in Charlotte has no visitors parking. My husband lives there which I thought would be a great place. Not for visitors. Anyway, I will go to Cary and take the train. This video gave me an idea of what to expect. Thanks for doing this.

Those car looked well kept

Great video review...Thanks for talking to us at start and end...makes a better quality video!

Congradulation to you,so you did a great job.Best presentation my friend NC one of my favorite Area It's a quite place & calm.I already travelled to :Raleigh,Greens Boro,Greens Vil and the down town of Greens Boro

Watching your videos is so relaxing, especially the day trips. Looking at the peaceful countryside and enjoying coffee and snacks, is so relaxing. Great job buddy.

I think NC did a good job of buying older rolling stock. This is the charm of rail travel to me.

Wow - what a great service! Excellent report and great editing too, can't wait for nest week!

Great video !!

Can't wait for the new charlotte gateway station to be built. It's supposed to be really nice. It will be in the center of a newly developed "gateway district" within the city.

Thank you for your service!

I love the stainless steel look of many US trainsets!

you never say a anything once you board , but the description with the emojis speak volumes thank you

Very interesting train from the past. Another great tour. Thanks Mr. T.

the intro sound is really nice to hear

...Old, refurbished Coaches: that ist almost endlessly possible.👌

A lovely video - thanks. The re-purposed factory that is now Raleigh station is fantastic. The train service is obviously run by a company that really cares about its services - the great refurbushment of the passenger cars and their individual naming are just 2 indicators of this.

Yes…and if Amtrak would have dedicated rail vs depending on freight-they would not have to wait as well as new tracks to allow increased speeds and safer traveling!!!

Doritos with coffee? Normal that after the Snack Time comes the Toilet Time 😂. Good video!

That was a charming trip. Very nicely done!

If I went to North Carolina to visit Raleigh and Charlotte, I would take the Piedmont.

When I visited there about 15 years ago, the locals called this "The Money Train", because it was the train the governor used to commute to the capitol each week.

Wow awesome 👍👍👍 very nice ❤️❤️❤️

This service is also unique in that the state owns most of the trackage. Norfolk Southern does manage it though and pays trackage rights for it's freight trains. The right of way is maintained by the state

One thing I’d like to see them do with the Piedmont in the future is upgrade the infrastructure & rolling stock to allow for faster speeds and reduced journey times.

Thank you for reviewing the Carolinian. I hope you are enjoying/enjoyed your stay in Charlotte, my home town. Did you ride the light rail Blue Line and Gold Line?

Not a big fan of vending machine coaches, but a nice trip nonetheless. BTW, if I am not mistaken the Stae of North Carolina owns the tracks that are used by these trains and the NS freights?

I remember the old Raleigh train station that had no city bus service and was cramped and old.

Awesome video! 😸

Most of the railroad (over 90%) corridor between Raleigh and Charolette is owned by the North Carolina Railroad with Norfolk Southern having trackage rights and dispatching control. The only owner of the company stocks of the North Carolina Railroad is, believe it or not, the State of North Carolina. So the Norfolk Southern dispatchers give Piedmont trains better service than other Amtrak trains. Norfolk Southern can not afford to make the State angry in fear of losing trackage rights in the center of their east coast main line between Charolette and Greenville. The State has been a major stock holder of the NCRR since it was first built, as an economic building engine for the State. There were no unsold lands to grant away, so the State invested in the railroad by buying stocks. Today it is the only stock holder as the State over years bought all the stocks.

Ton anglais s’améliore à chaque vidéo. Très bon mon ami!

Because NC paid for almost everything on this train service, it cost Amtrak virtually nothing. Smart!

I am of the Piedmont of Italy; a region with the same name!

good trip report