NCDOT Rail Division > Track Improvements

Proposed Speed Increase Project: NCDOT proposes to increase the maximum passenger train operating speed from 59 mph to 79 mph. This will be accomplished by additional trackwork such as tie replacement, track surfacing and additional curve super-elevation. This project will save 4 minutes of travel time between Raleigh and Selma.
Estimated Cost: $500,000
Construction Schedule: 2008

Note: As a separate project, the North Carolina Railroad is installing a Traffic Control and Communications system between Raleigh and Pine Level and will construct two sidings near Clayton and Garner so that freight and passenger trains may pass each other for improved passenger and freight reliability.

2002 Track Project
Crews installed new crossties, reshaped the rail, resurfaced the track and increased the superelevation of several curves to allow passenger trains to travel at speeds up to 59 mph (previous speed limit was 49 mph). In addition, the crews adjusted timing for rail crossing signals and reconstructed smoother surfaces for all rail-highway crossings.

Construction Work The project also included installation of a station leaving signal to notify passenger train engineers at the Raleigh Amtrak station that the railroad is clear to proceed. The new signals have helped reduce delays between Raleigh and Selma.

Cost: $2.7 million
Construction Schedule: Construction began November 2001 and was completed in February 2002. Passenger train speeds increased to 59 mph in March 2002.
Result: Super-elevating the curves and surfacing the track improved train performance, provided a smoother ride for passengers and saved 5 minutes per train. The station leaving signal saved an additional 4 minutes per eastbound train.

hi rail

Contact: Jason Orthner, PE

Updated 9/2007