North Carolina Completes Rail Infrastructure Improvements

Transportation officials in North Carolina say the state's program of rail infrastructure improvements is complete.

The N.C. Department of Transportation says in a news release that the Piedmont Improvement Program was designed to improve safety, efficiency and reliability for freight and passenger rail service between Charlotte and Raleigh. The program completed more than 40 rail projects over seven years.

In addition, the program also establishes two new daily round trips on the Piedmont passenger line. Ultimately, passengers will be able to travel on five trains each way between Raleigh and Charlotte. The first new round-trip Piedmont route is set to begin in the spring.

There were also 13 new bridges built over or under highways to prevent train-vehicle collisions and 27 miles of double track built between Greensboro and Charlotte.