Carolinian — Schedules, Fares & Stops

The Carolinian connects New York, NY and Charlotte, NC over a 704-mile route operated by Amtrak, calling at 20 stations across 8 states.

Quick Facts

Operator: Amtrak
Service type: Regional Intercity
Endpoints: New York ↔ Charlotte
Distance: 704 mi
Frequency: Daily
Stations: 20
States served: 8 (NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, NC)
Typical fare range: $45 – $185

Route guide

The Carolinian is a regional intercity service operated by Amtrak. Trains run Daily over 704 miles of mainline track between Moynihan Train Hall and Charlotte, calling at 20 intermediate and terminal stations across 8 states. For background reading on the corridor, several archival route histories are available alongside the operator's own marketing pages.

What to watch for: Piedmont Carolinas rolling country; passage through the Carolina Backwoods near Burlington.

History & service notes

The Carolinian began as a Southern Railway initiative and was relaunched by Amtrak in cooperation with NCDOT in 1990. Riders interested in pre-Amtrak operating history of the line can consult classic timetable archives for fuller context.

Equipment

Typical consist on the Carolinian includes amfleet I coaches, business class, ACS-64 to Washington and Charger to Charlotte. Equipment assignments may vary by departure and season; consult the operator for the most current information.

Stops along the route

Stations are listed in geographical order from New York to Charlotte. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.

Sample fares & travel times

Approximate one-way fare ranges and travel times for popular city pairs on this route. Fares vary widely by demand, time of booking, and class of service — these figures are reference midpoints suitable for planning, not booking. Click any pair for a fuller trip guide.

From	To	Distance	Time	Fare
New York	Newark	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Newark	Philadelphia	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Philadelphia	Wilmington	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Wilmington	Baltimore	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Baltimore	Washington	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Washington	Alexandria	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Alexandria	Richmond	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Richmond	Petersburg	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Petersburg	Rocky Mount	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Rocky Mount	Wilson	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Wilson	Raleigh	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Raleigh	Cary	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Cary	Durham	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Durham	Burlington	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Burlington	Greensboro	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Greensboro	High Point	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
High Point	Salisbury	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80
Salisbury	Kannapolis	37 mi	54m	$19 – $80

Connections & transfers

Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From New York, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at Charlotte. The corridor passes through cities including New York, Newark, and Charlotte, each with its own onward service map. A useful reference for cross-network connections is the consolidated national rail connection guide, updated each timetable change.

Trip planning tip. The Carolinian's lowest fares typically appear when booked 14 days or more in advance, and on midweek departures. Same-day "walk-up" fares are usually closer to the upper end of the range shown. Saver and Value buckets sell out first.