Received the following message this morning from the Carolina Association for Passenger Trains email group regarding the restoration of double track on a portion of the route used by the Crescent, Carolinian, and Piedmont.
This is essentially a point just south of where the Greensboro Amtrak station was prior to relocating back downtown to a point just north of High Point. The distance between those stations was 12 miles. The new double track is about 9 or 10 miles and links to existing double track through Greensboro and High Point on either end.
This location is crucial because it's about the midpoint of the Charlotte-Raleigh route. It is here that the Carolinian meets the Piedmont both ways and is also where new mid-day Raleigh - Charlotte trains would meet.
The message;
Cross-posted from NCrailpastpresent:Between CP Hoskins (High Point) to CP Cox (Greensboro) the new double track that the state of NC paid for, and was built by contractors under the supervision of NS is supposed to open at 8 AM 12/9/2009. I am told that until the slow orders are lifted that only slow freight trains will be put over the new track for the first couple of days. Amtrak and intermodel traffic will use the main one side. Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Good for NC, David. Too bad more states don't have ownership of rail lines. It would make improvements and added service much easier.
I wish NC and VA had a joint agreement to invest in passenger rail. Both states would benefit from a continuation of the new Lynchburg train to Greensboro.
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
I'm so glad they have done that. I wish our state would do that
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
The news still has ot made it to the NCDOT web site, which still has:
Greensboro to High Point - (Cox to Hoskins) milepost 289.3-298.0 This project is currently constructing an 8.7-mile section of second main track on the old roadbed (to the east side of the existing track) between "Cox" in west Greensboro and near Hoskins Street in High Point. New crossovers will be constructed to allow trains to quickly change from one track to the other at Cox and Hoskins. Estimated Cost: $20 million Construction Schedule: Construction has begun with estimated completion in late 2009.
Here are the points on the line:
283.8 Greensboro Station 284.2 Jct. 0.0 on Raleigh-Morehead City line 289.3 "Cox" - begin second track construction 298.0 "Hoskins" - end second track addition 299.2 High Point Station 309.9 "Bowers" - end double track | 314.0 "Lake" - begin double track 333.0 Jct. S Line to Asheville 333.6 Salisbury Station 337.3 "Reid" - end double track | 347.2 "N. Kannapolis" - begin double track 349.2 Kannapolis Station 360.1 "Haydock" - end double track | 372.3 "Junker" - begin double track 376.0 Charlotte Station (existing location) 377.7 Future Charlotte Station (place at original site)
The new section results in 26.1 miles of continuous double track south of Greensboro. 26.2 miles remain single track in the 93.9 mile total distance.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
26.1 continuous miles of double-track is significant.