posted
To go to New Orleans and Florida in one trip, with the Sunset Limited not running east of New Orleans, I see that I can take the Crescent up to North Carolina and catch the Carolinian. I could go to Greensboro (that is how Amtrak is routing me), arrive in the middle of the night (3:38AM) or I imagine I could go only as far as Charlotte, arriving a little earlier (1:25AM instead of 3:38--don't know why Amtrak doesn't automatically offer that option too). In either case, I would have to wait in the station in the middle of the night and catch the morning Carolinian to Raleigh. It's due into Raleigh at 11:03AM--but even if it is somewhat late getting in, I would still have some time to see something of Raleigh before catching the 9:13 PM Silver Star south to Florida.
Now, I don't sleep well any way and could care less about arriving in the middle of the night and waiting around, depending on answers to these questions: (a) Is waiting in these stations in the middle of the night is safe? Will staff and other people be there, do you think? Is there a difference in safety or comfort between Greensboro or Charlotte stations? (b) What is Raleigh like? Is it worth seeing? Where is the train station located with respect to the sights to see? Is there a baggage check there so I can leave luggage and go see the sights? Is there a good place to eat?
If this route is a problem I could of course go all the way back to Washington, where I know my way around, and then go back down to FL--but that is a lot of backtracking.
I also looked into going only as far as Atlanta on the Crescent and taking a Greyhound to Savannah, but the times are very poor and that would probably require staying overnight in both cities or taking a night bus, something I probably wouldn't like much, I'm thinking. And as for overnighting in those cities, I've been to both, esp liked Savannah, but I'd rather go someplace new (or Washington DC, except if it's too cold there!)
Of course, I could just take a bus from New Orleans to Florida, but that is a long trip on the bus. Has anyone ever done this? Maybe I could stop for an overnight or two somewhere in the Panhandle? I have never been there; where would you recommend, Pensacola maybe? I believe the beach is some distance from the downtown there, but that is OK if the downtown is reasonably interesting. . . .
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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Here is a good web resource for you <www.bytrain.org> from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. I was one of their volunteer train hosts working the 'Piedmont' during the four years I lived near enough Raleigh.
You will find both the Charlotte and Greensboro stations staffed 24-7. Being turned out of a locked station in the middle of the night is not going to happen at either of these locations. My impression is that Greensboro would be the preferred location to wait out a layover because the Charlotte station, while adequate, is kind of a 1960's cement box and is separated from the downtown area by about a mile of unsavory neighborhood.
The Greensboro station, on the other hand, relocated in October back to the recently restored 1927 Southern Railway station on the eastern edge of downtown. It is a real gem and one the NC DOT is justifiably proud of. The adjacent railway express building serves as the Greyhound Station and the Greensboro city transit system uses the area between the two buildings as their main transfer facility.
The station in Raleigh has checked baggage and the only first class lounge in North Carolina. I am sure that you could store bags while you sightsee. It's tucked away just west of downtown. The BB&T building....Raleigh's one genuine skyscraper....dominates the skyline about six blocks away and the Performing Arts Center is within four or five blocks of the train station. You might be able to catch a concert before the 'Silver Star' departs!
There is a homeless shelter across the street from the Raleigh station but I have never been accosted or panhandled there. I think that because Raleigh is an Amtrak crew change point that all of the legitimate activity tends to keep the shelter residents at arms length.
Other interesting sights in Raleigh would include a few museums and historic homes, the state capitol building, and the campuses of NC State University, Meredith College, and the NC State School of Vetrinary Medicine. ALL are within a couple or three miles of the train station and all are easily accesible using local transit. The CAT (Capitol Area Transit) buses come right to the door of the Amtrak station.
Dining options.....too numerous to mention but they will range from sub and pizza joints (college town!) to exquisite. Personally, I would recommend finding a BBQ joint! Not some trendy chain place with a name like Smoky Bones either. I'm talking the hole-in-the-wall kind of place that's been there since 1952.
A page from the NCDOT rail division website that will help is;
An entirely different option (though I would lean towards change in Greensboro, sightsee in Raleigh myself) that you might consider would be getting off the 'Crescent' somewhere between Charlotte and Greensboro, catching a cab to a nearby hotel, sleeping in, doing some sightseeing, and THEN catching the 'Piedmont' to Raleigh (or possibly Cary once the Silver Star begins stopping there in February 2006) that evening.
The connection from 'Piedmont' to 'Silver Star' was guaranteed at one point and still might be. Short of a grade crossing accident the only thing that might significantly delay the Raleigh bound 'Piedmont' is a very late southbound 'Carolinian'. There is a bit of padding built in to the schedule as the train approaches Raleigh to help it recover say 10-20 minutes as well.
If you look into this option, you may want to consider Salisbury, NC as your transfer point. The North Carolina Transportation Museum in adjacent Spencer, NC is a great destination for a rail enthusiast. There are also some historic homes there I believe. Regular forum poster DMWNC1959 lives in Salisbury and can make suggestions pertinant to lodging and local transit possibilities.
Another possibility is High Point, NC where my favorite restored railway station in North Carolina is located. There is local bus service at this station with the possibility of getting into Winston-Salem, NC in the morning and back in the afternoon to catch the 'Piedmont'.
Finally, any option involving Savannah is not a good one as the station is miles from town and just about anything else (hotel, dining options, etc.) that you would need. It's location is poorly marked and there is no local transit service.
Mercy, what a long post. I just got carried away. Good luck with planning your trip and be sure to share your adventures with us when you get home.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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I spent a little time following links at <www.bytrain.org> and found this little nugget embedded in the Raleigh CVB website;
<www.tgifraleigh.com/amtrak.asp>
Apparantly Amtrak is offering a 20% discount through November 30, 2006 for travel to Raleigh. There is a specific fare code and blackout dates BUT this offer may save you a few dollars as part of a larger trip.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Thank you so much for all this info, David. That North Carolina site is excellent! I think I will do it changing in Greensboro, with the layover to see Raleigh, which looks like an interesting town. For lunch, I was thinking/hoping BBQ myself and think I found a good one right near the Capitol. I just have to make sure not to come on a Sunday; the BBQ place is closed!
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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quote:Originally posted by sojourner: Thank you so much for all this info, David. That North Carolina site is excellent! I think I will do it changing in Greensboro, with the layover to see Raleigh, which looks like an interesting town. For lunch, I was thinking/hoping BBQ myself and think I found a good one right near the Capitol. I just have to make sure not to come on a Sunday; the BBQ place is closed!
Happy to help! I'm actually catching a train out of the 'new' Greensboro station (though I've been in the old Southern station a couple of times as the renovation neared completion) for the first time Friday. It's just a day roundtrip to Rocky Mount on the 'Carolinian' but I'm looking forward to it!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
The NC website seems to be just inviting people to use the train. If I lived in NC I'd want to take it all the time!!!!
I'm thinking when I do it, times might work even better if I go in the other direction--Florida first, then Silver Star to Raleigh, arriving around 5AM (haha), leaving on Piedmont late afternoon, arriving around 6:30PM in Greensboro. I doubt I'd see much of Greensboro at that hour but I would likely have dinner there (depending on how much BBQ I have at lunch!). Do you have any dining recs for Greensboro convenient to the station. Maybe I should have the BBQ there, not Raleigh????
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Encouraging people to give the train a try is the driving force behind the NCDOT's entire station renovation program and the website.
Depending on when you travel coming from Florida on the northbound 'Silver Star' would likely make a good deal of sense. I've just learned that the northbound 'Crescent' has been running ridiculously late (6-14 hours) the last week or two. It's believed to be due to problems getting out of New Orleans still.
Northbound 'Silver Star' is likely to be 1-3 hours late. Your afternoon departure from Raleigh is going to be on the southbound Carolinian' (Southbound 'Piedmont' goes at 7:05am) which could also be as much as 1-3 hours late......not a huge problem as this reduces your dwell time in Greensboro.
I don't have a suggestion for dining near the station in Greensboro off the top of my head BUT will be spending the night there Thursday. I'll see if there is any local information available when I pick my tickets up at the Greensboro station and pass it along Saturday evening when I get home to the laptop. Best bet might be a cab or local transit out to the convention center area.......by the interstate sadly.....rather than downtown.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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