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Reality is that Raleigh Union Station is deeply unpopular with people who live outside 440. It takes too long to drive downtown, pay for parking, etc. Everyone I know in north Raleigh just drives to Cary where you can skip the traffic (unless there's a big event at the arena), park for free, and walk 100 feet to reach the platform. I believe the Piedmonts would get another bump in ridership if the trains were convenient to people in the Wake Forest-Youngsville area.
That said, the notion of commuter trains between Wake Forest and Raleigh is absurd.
RUS was supposed to have been designed with a stub for the S-line platform. How much of that was really completed, given the cost overruns on the project, I don't know.
The project could be cost-reduced considerably by skipping the new bridge over Capital Blvd and running the trains up the S-line past the freight yard, the way that SAL did. When it comes time to put a shovel in the ground, I expect there will be some rationalization of the plan.
TOC properties may be in play for that project, right?
They will be once TOC takes them. The whole block across Harrison from the current station, everything bounded by the tracks, Harrison, and West St., including all of Hillsboro St.
The gas station, Pure Gold (their fancy new building out by the airport is just about done), the building that used to have Roma's in it (can't remember what else is there), and some homes.
And then the former station site will also be available for something.
They will be once TOC takes them. The whole block across Harrison from the current station, everything bounded by the tracks, Harrison, and West St., including all of Hillsboro St.
The gas station, Pure Gold (their fancy new building out by the airport is just about done), the building that used to have Roma's in it (can't remember what else is there), and some homes.
And then the former station site will also be available for something.
I am a big fan of passenger rail, but the US "system" doesn't really work for me.
Whenever I visit Europe, I almost never rent a car there or fly. I take trains. Because their system works very well. The key is having both intercity and suburban services that are simply more convenient than other alternatives. If I can walk from my home or hotel to a suburban station, with fairly frequent service, to a main railway station for an intercity train, then all is good.
But here, except in a few places like NYC and Chicago, the intercity services are few and far between, and suburban services are almost nonexistent. Our "system" is mostly car-friendly ( ? ) but not rail friendly. And given our long-time commitment to cars, building effective suburban rail here is not very likely.
When I lived in New Jersey ( 1976-1979 ) I really didn't need a car much, as I could take a commuter train, with frequent service, into the big city.
That said, it may still make sense for some routes here, like linking Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, etc.
On the other hand, if I did want to go to DC from here, a good rail service would be appealing. I am of an age where driving I-95 is beyond my means.
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