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Finally read some of the details of the latest round of government funding for HSR projects. I see $22M will be given to Charlotte. This is in addition to the '09 funding that provided for maintenance facility improvements in the downtown area. It's not clear to me if the new station will actually be built under this phase but it sounds promising.
From the FRA report:
Phase I: Charlotte Station and Grade Separation Program Eliminate eight busy grade crossings, improve safety and reliability on the corridor, and relocate the Charlotte station to the city’s central business district where it will connect with local transit and a transit-oriented development community and be in close proximity to a new maintenance facility currently being constructed under the FY09 ARRA award. Completes an incremental phase of a larger capital program that will improve capacity and reliability and eventually lead to a fifth intercity passenger rail frequency between Raleigh and Charlotte. 22,000,000$
notelvis Member # 3071
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Getting the Charlotte station back downtown would be a significant step forward. The plans for such have been on the drawing board for at least a decade.
The to station improvements, then to Charlotte. At the bottom of the text are some links to details on the Station plan. They make no small plans.
rresor Member # 128
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Just returned from a weekend in North Carolina that ended with a ride north from Salisbury, NC to Alexandria, VA on Amtrak 80. North Carolina has already accomplished a great deal. The line from Salisbury to Raleigh and Selma is much faster than I remember it being, and there are refurbished stations at Salisbury and Greensboro, a new station at Durham, and of course now a third Raleigh -- Charlotte frequency. North Carolina's rail effort has been "under the radar" for many railfans, but their accomplishments are already impressive and there is much more to come.
Between Richmond and Washington, Virginia has been busy. They've re-signaled the RF&P, put in numerous new crossovers, and there are now three main tracks from Franconia all the way to "RO" at the south end of the Potomac River bridge. However, there are so many trains that they need a lot more third main. They're working on it.
George Harris Member # 2077
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I have ben following the going ons in North Carolina for quite a few years. There work has been more plodding than flashy, but also more effective that talking loudly about grandiose plans and meanwhile achieving nothing. They have a reasonable solid state level commitment and funding, and also, They own the railroad between Charlotte - Raleigh - goldsboro - Beuamont. it is leased to NS for operation.
They have also made station improvements at locations that are served by Amtrak trains not on this line nor supported by state funds.
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