North Carolina’s Amtrak will celebrate National Train Day Saturday by holding open houses at train stations from Charlotte to Fayetteville, including Salisbury and Kannapolis.
The event will raise awareness of North Carolina’s passenger rail service by encouraging people of all ages to visit their nearest train station for a day of train activities and trip planning information.
“Saturday will be a great opportunity for folks to visit their local train stations and learn more about the benefits of traveling by train,” said Pat Simmons, rail director for the N.C. Department of Transportation.
“Ridership is up more than 95 percent over last year. We hope that these events will encourage even more people to take advantage of this efficient and environmentally-friendly option.”
Prospective passengers are encouraged to find out where their North Carolina trains can take them by visiting open houses at stations along the corridor including Raleigh, Durham, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury, Kannapolis, Charlotte, Selma, Wilson, Rocky Mount and Fayetteville.
• Kannapolis Station, 201 S. Main St., 704-932-1591. Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Salisbury Station, 215 Depot St., 704-638-4281. Hours 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
People can pick up train schedules and trip planning information and have their train travel questions answered by staff. They will also receive free train giveaways.
Visitors at Burlington, High Point, Salisbury, Kannapolis, Charlotte and Selma will have refreshments, kids’ activities, train stories and songs, music and can register to win train tickets. Visit bytrain.org for a complete list of activities at these stations.
North Carolina’s annual National Train Day celebration is part of festivities going on across the country to raise awareness of the role rail plays in the nation’s transportation system. The May date was chosen to recognize the anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah, in 1869, which connected the east and west coast by rail for the first time.
The Piedmont and Carolinian trains are sponsored by NCDOT and paid for through state funding, Amtrak and passenger fares. North Carolina’s Amtrak fleet of two trains provides daily service to Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, nine other North Carolina cities, and to the Northeast. Complete schedule and train information is available at bytrain.org. Reservations are required.
Travelers should book early for best fares. Tickets can be purchased at ticket windows, automated ticket kiosks at all stations, except Cary or online at Amtrak.com.