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- News Release
- Date: August 25, 2004
Study Says Charlotte to Macon Higher-Speed Trains Are Feasible
Passenger Trains Could Operate Up to 90 Miles Per Hour
The Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina Departments of Transportation have completed a feasibility study that evaluates the overall suitability and costs of developing high-speed passenger train service between Charlotte, Spartanburg, Greenville, Atlanta and Macon.
The two-year long study identified route alternatives, reviewed capacity and speed capabilities of the corridor, and estimated ridership, revenue, operating and capital costs associated with extending high-speed passenger rail from Charlotte to Macon. The $200,000 study was paid for with funds from the USDOT Federal Railroad Administration; the three states provided matching funds and oversight of the study.
"Work is well underway to extend high-speed rail from Washington, D.C. to Charlotte. Extending the corridor further south to Atlanta and Macon is the logical next step," said Georgia Transportation Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl. "High-speed rail could help satisfy the demand for efficient business travel between the Southeast’s largest city and the nation’s second largest financial center."
The Macon-Charlotte Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor Study examined the potential for improving 366 miles of rail between Charlotte, Spartanburg, Greenville, Atlanta and Macon operating two to six high-speed passenger trains daily. The report evaluated three different investment alternatives and estimated costs and results of each scenario. Each of the alternatives is designed to add infrastructure improvements to enable additional freight and passenger trains operating at higher speeds.
The most conservative alternative called for trains operating at speeds up to 79 mph, with an average speed of 60 mph. This approach would require minimum upgrades including adding a second track in some areas and straightening some curves at a cost of $171 million. Passengers could travel from Charlotte to Atlanta in 4 hours, 26 minutes.
The moderate alternative would require more upgrades (totaling $1.1 billion) including relocating 28 miles of sharper curves, upgrading track and making extensive crossing improvements. Under this scenario, trains would operate up to 90 mph with average speeds of 70 mph, enabling passengers to travel between Charlotte and Atlanta in 3 hours 44 minutes.
The high-speed alternative would enable trains to operate at speeds up to 110 mph. Costly infrastructure improvements – totaling $1.4 billion – would be necessary including straightening 103 miles of curvy track, adding a second track in some areas and grade separating some crossings. But hilly terrain and a curvy 130-year old railroad would permit trains to reach that top speed only about five percent of the time. Average speeds of 72 miles per hour would enable passengers to travel between Charlotte and Atlanta in 3 hours and 40 minutes.
The report concluded that the most cost effective program of public and private infrastructure improvements to the Norfolk Southern railroad line would permit top passenger train speeds between 79-90 mph. The study recommended that the states work with Norfolk Southern and the Federal Railroad Administration to develop a program of infrastructure improvements, conduct detailed environmental impact analyses and capacity studies, and begin public outreach efforts along the corridor.
Construction of the Southeast High-Speed Rail corridor is dependent on securing federal funds to help develop the route. Congress currently is considering several pieces of legislation that would provide dedicated funding and tax incentives for development of high-speed rail corridors.
"It is in our region’s best interest to have a vibrant, modern and well-operated multi-modal transportation system that links the state capitals and largest cities in the Southeast," said North Carolina Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett. "The states are doing their share to plan, develop and support such a system and we are looking forward to securing a federal partner to help us in these efforts."
"High-speed rail is an important transportation vision for the South Carolina Department of Transportation," said Elizabeth Mabry, Executive Director of the South Carolina Department of Transportation. "Completion of this phase of the study brings us closer to implementing our vision."
The Macon-Charlotte Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor Study marks the next phase in the overall development of high-speed rail in the Southeast. The North Carolina Department of Transportation and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation began initial environmental work five years ago, examining nine possible routes along the 500-mile Washington-Charlotte corridor. The preferred route was selected in 2001 and a Record of Decision issued by the Federal Highway and Railroad Administrations. The agencies currently are working on the Tier II Environmental Impact Statement that will look at specific designs and will provide more precise and detailed analysis of potential impacts to the human and natural environments. Once the study is completed, the results would be used to acquire the permits needed for construction.
"We’re pleased to participate in the effort to implement high-speed rail in the Southeast," said Sam Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and founder of the Southeastern Economic Alliance. "Efficient transportation systems are essential if our businesses and our region are to remain competitive in this growing global market. We’ll do all we can to support the next steps of studies needed to develop a full public private funding partnership."
The Southeastern Economic Alliance, a coalition of 16 chambers of commerce representing business leaders from six Southeastern states, is working toward rapid implementation of competitive, reliable and safe high-speed passenger rail service across the region. The Alliance was the driving force behind a recent $750,000 Congressional earmark for Southeast High Speed Rail. The funds will be used to begin the next round of capacity, environmental and engineering studies.
- Contacts:
David Foster, NCDOT – 919-733-7245 x266
Karlene Barron, GADOT – 404-463-6460
Pete Poore, SCDOT – 803-737-1270
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