“Ridership is increasing significantly along this route and adding a midday train run will meet the growing demand and provide needed services to North Carolina travelers who are looking for economical alternatives to driving,” Easley said. “As fuel prices continue to climb, more and more people are turning to rail as their choice for transportation.”

From October 2007 to April 2008, ridership was up more than 22 percent with 197,126 travelers riding either the Piedmont or Carolinian trains. On the Piedmont (trains 73 and 74) ridership was up almost 26 percent from 28,309 to 35,681 passengers; the Carolinian (trains 79 and 80) was up 18 percent from 136,358 to 161,445.

The state has obtained federal funds to get the train into service:

The estimated cost to operate the additional route is $3 million a year. The money will come from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program.

“Federal funds are going to cover startup and operational costs for the next three years, so it’s a win-win,” said Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett. “Riding the train offers a safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly way to travel.”

The press release doesn’t get into operational details, but the present Piedmont lays over in Charlotte for over 7 hours prior to returning to Raleigh, where the service is based. I would imagine the morning equipment will turn around and depart around noon, with the evening train using the equipment from a new Raleigh departure of about the same time.

Later in the morning was the odd sight of a Railmax rig, a multi-trailer semi-tractor pulled weed clearing vehicle. Lastly was a quick-moving southbound Norfolk Southern intermodal freight train, led by a trio of GE 4,000hp road diesels.