RALEIGH -- Motorists will notice that trains are traveling a bit faster through Raleigh and Cary beginning next week.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the North Carolina Railroad and Norfolk Southern have partnered to improve safety and upgrade the existing rail corridor. The NCDOT has invested in track and signal improvements to increase the efficiency and capacity for both freight and passenger trains along the North Carolina Railroad. The North Carolina Railroad Company owns and manages the 317-mile rail corridor from Morehead City to Charlotte.

Train speeds will increase incrementally over the next few weeks. And on September 26th passenger trains will begin operating up to 79 mph and freight trains up to 60 mph.

“We have been working on this stretch of track for the past eight months, getting it ready to support faster train travel,” explains Paul Worley, NCDOT Rail Division’s assistant director for Engineering and Safety.

Last February CSX Transportation replaced the older, jointed rail with heavier welded rail. The new steel ribbon rail supports the faster speeds and provides a smoother ride for those traveling by train. CSX crews also replaced approximately one third of all the railroad cross ties.

Over the spring and summer months, Norfolk Southern replaced its old crossties on a section of track that runs parallel to the CSX line to improve the support under the rail. In the final phase of the project, smoother permanent crossing surfaces were put in place at Reedy Creek Road, Trinity Road, Powell Drive, Beryl Road, Maynard Road, Nowell Road, Blue Ridge Road and Royal Street.

“The work our engineers have performed ensures that freight and passenger trains can safely increase their speeds,”said Worley. “This section of track is very important to both passenger and freight traffic in this area.”

With the faster speeds, motorists should expect a train on the tracks at any time. In addition, motorists are reminded:

• Never try to run around the gates.
• It takes 1-1.5 miles for a train to come to a stop after the brakes are applied.
• If your car stalls on the tracks, get out and call the police or local emergency officials.

In August, the driver of a dump truck and his passenger were killed in downtown Raleigh when they ignored the warning signals and tried to beat the Amtrak Carolinian across the tracks.
“These trains will be traveling faster now. While motorists may now have a smoother ride over the crossings, it is imperative they do their part by obeying the gates and warning signals,” said Worley.

*** NCDOT ****

MEDIA NOTE: Staff from the NCDOT, Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, CSX and Operation Lifesaver will conduct a day-long safety campaign in Raleigh and Cary Thursday, September 15th to promote safety at railroad crossings. Staff will be at the Powell Drive, Nowell Road, Trinity Road and Reedy Creek Road crossings from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and from 1:30-3 pm. For more information, contact Julia Jarema, 919-733-7245 x247.