Recently, a letter was released between the city of Charlotte and Norfolk Southern Railway Company according to WCNC Charlotte. The letter shows that the two groups are currently discussing plans to potentially launch a passenger train to northern Mecklenburg County. So North Carolina may have a passenger train to northern Mecklenburg County soon.
If this train is built, it would carry people to and from Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, and Mooresville.
In July, Norfolk Southern told the Charlotte Mayor and city manager that it was willing to discuss its freight line. Public officials have wanted to use this line for a long time to create a transit line.
The first train line in the city is called the LYNX Blue Line. Currently, it runs simultaneously beside the Norfolk Southern tracks. These tracks already exist from Woodlawn Avenue south to CATS' I-485 station.
There was a vote in September by the Charlotte City Council that passed to redesign the proposed LYNX's Red Line concept. During this time, the public was not made aware of the letter from Norfolk Southern that was sent in July. This letter was the first time in years that Norfolk Southern said they were at least willing to explore options with Charlotte officials.
The Charlotte Area Transit Service is responsible for running the city's bus and transit trains. Throughout the past few years, the service has had a lot of struggles with staffing and safety issues.
In recent months the state-funded Amtrak service has seen a record-high in the number of passengers using the service. Amtrak hopes to extend its service through Ashville and Wilmington in the future.
This morning I woke up at 6:30 a.m. and took the pups out to go potty. It was a bit chilly when I walked outside, and the feeling of fall was in the air. It's not here yet, but it's coming! Fall is my favorite time of the year and here in the South, you can experience the beauty of the season in many ways. If you'd like to see the gorgeous fall foliage, a train ride is a cool way to check it out.
Southern Living has the '14 Best Train Rides for Spotting Fall Foliage' and there are some spots that aren't too far from us here in the Charlotte area. Driving up to the N.C. mountains to see the leaves changing colors is fun, but if you're the driver, you can miss some of the beauty. Taking a train ride is a great way to experience the gorgeous fall colors.
Bryson City, N.C. is on the list and it's not a far drive from us. You can hop aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and bask in the amazing colors of the mountains. You can see the vibrant foliage of Western North Carolina, and you can ride in their open-air gondola or dine in the first-class car. There are numerous packages to choose from, and there are different events to check out.
Now is the time to plan a fun trip to see the colors changing and you can pick a fun location from the list below. Pictures are a must on these rides!
The Fall Color Run is a three-hour trip which runs throughout November, with gorgeous views of streams and leaves.
This seven-mile ride will take you through Kentucky's Woodford County. And each October they have Pumpkin Patch trains that kids will love.
This 40-mile trek will take you through Ozark Mountains and offer plenty of beauty. They offer numerous trips each day so you can find one that fits your schedule.
Bring the whole family to experience the breathtaking views of the leaves in West Virginia.
The conductor of the train will narrate this hour-long excursion as you view the wonders of Missouri and North Arkansas.
We all know how beautiful N.C. is in the fall, and now you can experience it by train. Bryson City isn't a far drive, so this is a great day trip.
All aboard to see Chattanooga's Lookout Mountain! The views get better and better the higher the train climbs. This is like going on a train rollercoaster
Talk about dinner with a view! Enjoy amazing food while taking in the breathtaking views.
You can pick between two excursions, a two-hour trip or an eight-hour trip and check out the sights and sounds of West Virginia.
This ride is great for the kids as it's only 55 minutes long.
With the depot near the University of Tennessee, you can not only see the leaves change, but explore the campus too!
Check out the scenery of the Alleghany Mountains and be on the lookout for Helmstetter's Horseshoe Curve.
This excursion isn't close to us, but if you have some vacation time you may wanna check it out. They have an Autumn Leaf Special running in October and November.
Download the app to LISTEN LIVE wherever you are and connect with us like never before!
