RALEIGH, N.C. — Beginning August 1, trains will travel a little faster along portions of the North Carolina Railroad between Durham and Charlotte, the North Carolina Department of Transportation reports. Train speeds will increase between five and 44 miles per hour, depending on the stretch of track, and will shave about 10 minutes off the trip between the two cities.
“These speed increases follow years of work to make rail crossings safer and improve efficiency on the railroad between Raleigh and Charlotte,” said N.C. Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett. “The time savings may seem moderate now but, when combined with other slated improvements, will make the passenger rail service more auto competitive. In addition, these speed increases will be good for commerce because they will improve freight shipment efficiency.”
Between Durham and Greensboro passenger train speeds will increase from the current 25-55 mph to a maximum of 59 mph, while freight trains will increase from 15-45 mph up to a top speed of 49 mph. Straighter stretches of track between Greensboro and Charlotte will enable passenger trains along this section to operate at top speeds of 79 mph, while freight trains will operate up to 60 mph. Maximum speeds currently range from 35-79 mph for passenger trains and 50-60 mph for freight trains.
For the past decade, state transportation officials have been working with local communities along the busy rail corridor to reduce the number of crossings and add protective devices to remaining crossings to deter drivers from trying to beat the train. Since 1995, 25 crossings have been closed and 89 more have been upgraded with flashing lights, crossing gates or other such devices between Raleigh and Charlotte.
As the NCDOT was outfitting the rail crossings with flashing lights and gates, it also improved the signal circuitry at each crossing. The crossings now include constant warning time devices, which signal the gates to lower 25-30 seconds before the train arrives regardless of what speed it is traveling.
“The constant warning time devices provide consistent advance notice to motorists, thereby improving safety at these crossings,” said Tippett. “Drivers are more likely to heed the warning devices because they know the train is imminent.”
The department is partnering with Operation Lifesaver, a national public information and education program designed to prevent and reduce train crashes, to notify businesses nearest the railroad tracks about the speed increases. They also plan to have several safety information blitzes to increase awareness among motorists of the speed change.
“We do all we can to prevent injuries and fatalities at rail crossings,” said NCDOT Rail Director Patrick Simmons. “Ultimately, however, it is the driver’s responsibility to stop, look, listen and obey the crossing signals.”
The crossing improvements are part of a comprehensive project to improve efficiency, increase capacity and reduce travel time between Cary and Greensboro. The North Carolina Department of Transportation, in partnership with the North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) and Norfolk Southern Railway Company, is making $24 million worth of improvements to the tracks along the busy rail corridor. Enhancements include lengthening passing sidings, improving two railroad junctions, installing new train signals, banking some portions of track and installing a new centralized traffic control system.
Once all the work is completed- scheduled for 2004- travel time between the two cities will be reduced by at least 20 minutes. The NCDOT and Norfolk Southern are providing the engineering and design plans for the projects and the NCDOT is paying for the rail improvements with state and federal funds. Norfolk Southern is performing the construction work on the NCRR corridor.