State’s Piedmont Passenger Rail Service Suspends Operations

Passengers can change reservations, travel on Carolinian trains

RALEIGH – Starting Monday, May 18, people traveling between Raleigh and Charlotte will make trips on Carolinian trains 79 and 80.

The N.C. Department of Transportation is suspending operations of the state-operated Piedmont passenger rail service until further notice due to the impacts of COVID-19 on the department’s revenue.

Passengers with reservations can modify their trip on Amtrak.com, or find their reservation on the home screen in the Amtrak app. To cancel a reservation with no fee, passengers must call 800-BY-TRAIN and speak with an agent (not available via Amtrak.com or the app). Amtrak is waiving change fees on all existing reservations until Aug. 31.

To ensure passenger and crew safety, Amtrak is requiring that all customers in stations, on trains and thruway buses wear facial coverings. In addition, enhanced cleaning measures are in place on the trains and at stations. While on board, passengers are encouraged to follow social distancing recommendations.