12 Tips for a Smooth Ride on Amtrak’s Piedmont Train

Considering a ride on the Piedmont train, which connects Charlotte to Raleigh? Here's what you need to know before you book.

One of my favorite methods of travel is one I very rarely get to utilize: taking the train.

It’s far more comfortable than flying and offers a street-level view of passing towns and cities without the stress of traffic (and there’s no need to stop for gas or to take a bathroom break). You can even walk around and stretch your legs!

Access to frequent train routes with timetables that make sense is pretty limited in the US, especially if you live outside of the Northeast. But here in Central North Carolina, we are pretty fortunate to have a train service that bounces between Charlotte and Raleigh four times in each direction each day, and is perfect for commuters and travelers alike: the Piedmont.

This post is not affiliated with Amtrak or NC By Train but contains commissionable links.

The Piedmont launched in 1995, increasing daily passenger service between Charlotte and Raleigh along the same route served by the Carolinian, which runs from Charlotte to New York City. Jointly operated by Amtrak and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (under the branding NC By Train), the Piedmont offers daily stops at the following stations: Charlotte, Kannapolis, Salisbury, High Point, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, Cary, and Raleigh.

Michael and I seized a beautiful fall Saturday to travel by train in our home state, departing Charlotte in the morning and returning in the evening. It was all around an incredibly pleasant experience, from unburdening ourselves from a vehicle to meeting friendly train and station staff. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, but I learned some important things along the way that I’ll be glad to know for my next journey.

New to the Piedmont route? I’m honored to be your conductor today! Here are twelve things you should know before you purchase your train tickets:

TIPS FOR RIDING THE PIEDMONT TRAIN

A photo inside the Charlotte train station — Tickets can be purchased at the station or on the train, but it’s best to purchase them online in advance

1. Fares stay steady

Unlike most train tickets, the price for seats on the Piedmont train remains the same regardless of whether you buy them for today or six months from now. What does result in a price change is adjusting the length of the trip. Just riding one town over? You’ll pay much less than if you’re riding the entire route from Charlotte to Raleigh (or Raleigh to Charlotte).

2. …but you should still book in advance

Although you won’t net any savings by booking in advance, you should still consider booking as soon as you know your travel plans. Why? Popular travel times – particularly weekend journeys – can sell out.

3. There are ways to save

Traveling with a group? Book your tickets together to save up to 60% on the fare (note: you must book together on the Share Fares page or with code V291 in the app to see the discount). Additional discounts are offered on regular fares for children under 12, students ages 18-24, active military and veterans, state employees, and seniors. To check if there are any short-term offers available, head here for the latest deals on the Amtrak site and here for the current deals from NC By Train.

Seats on board the Piedmont train — Seats on the Piedmont train are at *least* as spacious and comfortable as business class seats on an airplane

A table with banquette seats and Alyssa and Michaels seats on the train — Most seats are in a 2-2 layout facing in either direction, though some table seating is available

4. Every car is Coach and there are no assigned seats

Unlike flying, you won’t receive an assigned seat on the Piedmont train. Instead, you’ll have to locate an open seat while boarding. This isn’t usually an issue when boarding at the beginning of a route, but if you’re boarding somewhere in the middle, you may have to split from your group or sit with a stranger.

This can sometimes be a good thing – we chatted with our seatmates the entire ride from Charlotte to Salisbury and were surprised by how quick the journey felt. As every car is a Coach car, you can just take the first free seat you find without worrying you’re in the wrong place.

5. The Piedmont makes for an excellent workspace

With free WiFi, comfortable chairs, plenty of legroom, and an outlet at every seat, the train is an excellent place to work while traveling. Consider hopping on Northbound Train 74 or Southbound Train 77 on a Friday afternoon, finish your work day on the train, and be ready to hop off and start your weekend (since you’re already at your destination!).

6. Dress in layers

The train cars fluctuate greatly in temperature depending on how many people are riding, so bring a jacket and be ready to remove it as needed to remain comfortable.

The coffee and vending options on the Piedmont train — With such a short ride, snack and drink options are limited

7. Coffee and bottled water are free

Though I encourage you to support a local coffee shop and fill your reusable water bottle before boarding, sometimes it’s simply not possible. Thankfully you’ll find free water and coffee in the cafe car, along with snack and drink vending machines for purchase. Note: you can bring your own food and nonalcoholic beverages aboard.

8. There’s a bathroom in every car

Oh, no reason for putting this as the next bullet point… but you’ll find a toilet at the end of every car (it’s not a thing of beauty, but it’s marginally better than an airplane bathroom).

A passenger exits the train with a suitcase — Baggage restrictions are much more generous than most airlines

9. Pack your bags

I still advocate for traveling light with a carry-on suitcase or smaller, but the baggage allowance on the Piedmont train is more generous than most airlines and you can choose to carry on or check larger bags. Head here for current baggage information (note: your furry friends can ride, too!).

10. Routes may change for special events

Large events in this region of North Carolina bring route changes to the Piedmont. Additional stops are added for the NC State Fair and The Barbecue Festival in Lexington, and NC By Train offers recommended itineraries for certain Panthers game days. Head here for special event information.

11. You may consider riding the Carolinian instead

Depending on the time of day you want to travel, the Carolinian train may be a better option. This route spans from Charlotte to New York and coincides with the Piedmont route between Charlotte and Raleigh (and if you’re traveling anywhere between Charlotte and Greensboro, you’ll also see the Crescent train as an option). Prices appear to be the same for coach seats on all routes, but you could upgrade to a higher-fare class if you really wanted to (personally, I wouldn’t for such a short route).

Michael's feet are shown in the foreground as he waits for the train — Be prepared to wait…

12. Your train may be delayed

In our train system, freight trains take precedence over passenger rail – meaning, if a train is going to be delayed, it’s not going to be the freight train. And in the U.S., passengers don’t have the right to compensation in the event of delay like in other countries and Amtrak will not refund you if your train is delayed.

For the most part, things run smoothly and trains depart more or less on time. But the later it gets in the day, the tougher it is to deal with a lengthy delay. Keep up with your train status on Amtrak’s site, and maybe consider having a backup plan that you hope to never use. I suppose the one bright side to the possibility of a long delay or cancelation on the Piedmont route is that it’s not a very long route to begin with (and if things really came down to it, it might be possible to rent a car or have a friend retrieve you). As always with travel, we plan for the worst and hope for the best.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON RIDING THE PIEDMONT TRAIN

A train pulls away from the station — The Piedmont route offers a ride duration similar to driving

The view out of the window on the Piedmont — Taking the train offers a different perspective on life in North Carolina

Coming from a Florida city with no easy access to rail, I’m excited at the prospect of riding the Piedmont train to get to some of my favorite NC destinations without needing a car: Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Salisbury, and Kannapolis (and of course, returning to my home city of Charlotte!).

The train is a much more comfortable experience than driving, and even though I could technically drive to Raleigh faster than taking the train, it frees up my time to work on this site, chat with Michael, or knit. The only downside, in my opinion? The price.

As a pair of adults who don’t qualify for any of the discount options, we’d pay $104 roundtrip for both tickets all the way to Raleigh (I guess that just means we need to travel with friends – if we traveled as a group of eight, it brings our price to only $167 roundtrip!).

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Questions for you

When was the last time you rode a train as your means of travel transportation?

What is the longest train ride you’ve ever taken?

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12 Things You Should Know Before Riding Amtrak’s Piedmont Train