(The North Carolina Railroad issued the following on October 30.)
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) announced today a study to determine the costs to build track for commuter rush hour rail service on its existing line from Goldsboro to Greensboro. HNTB, a national engineering firm experienced in both freight and commuter rail, was awarded the study contract.
“Morning and afternoon commuter trains have potential for significant energy, safety, and environmental benefits,” said Scott M. Saylor, NCRR president. “But there are major questions that should be answered about the costs and compatibility with future freight and passenger train traffic.”
He added, “This study, for the first time, will show us the up front costs for additional tracks, bridges and other infrastructure that would be necessary for the different uses to co-exist on the same line.” The study will not include estimates for ridership or operating costs. It will take nine months to complete. The study will cost approximately $400,000, which the NCRR is funding out of its own revenues.
NCRR is a private railroad company owned by the state of North Carolina. It manages a 317-mile rail corridor, with primarily a single rail line, from the Morehead City Port through the Triangle and Triad to Charlotte. Norfolk Southern Railway has a long term agreement with NCRR to serve North Carolina freight customers. Amtrak uses the same rail. The railroad carries more than 70 freight trains and eight passenger trains daily, and Norfolk Southern will be working with NCRR on the study.
The Norfolk Southern agreement guarantees that the addition of passenger service will not disrupt freight service. Freight service on the NCRR is critical to many manufacturing, construction, power, and chemical companies in the state, along with the state’s major military bases.
The study will be based on adding four commuter trains in the morning and evening rush hours and one midday train to the existing traffic. Specific station stops have not been determined, but they are likely to be 5-7 miles apart.
The approach of using the existing rail for rush hour commuting is different than earlier studies by the Triangle Transit Authority (TTA). Those trains would have operated on dedicated rail lines over shorter distances and all day long.
“The data from this study should prove valuable and timely to Triangle Transit Authority and our two regional planning organizations as we identify and prioritize major transit investments for the future,” says David King, TTA general manager.
Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) is undertaking its own study for proposed commuter service on the rail line between Greensboro and Winston-Salem, which is not owned by NCRR. “The NCRR study will be an important source of information for those of us interested in commuter rail,” said Brent McKinney, PART Executive Director.
HNTB will be assisted by the California-based Woodside Group, Inc., a leader in the development of capacity models for rail operations and EcoScience Corporation, a Raleigh based firm with expertise in the evaluation of environmental requirements for railroad tracks and bridges.
The study results will be shared with communities, universities, Chambers of Commerce, the public and transportation-related organizations along the corridor.
NCRR is the state’s oldest corporation and receives no state appropriations. The bulk of its revenues are from the freight agreement with Norfolk Southern. NCRR, in conjunction with NCDOT and Norfolk Southern, has underway a $150 million capital investment program over the next several years and assists communities and the state with economic development and community rail safety projects.