Piedmont — Schedules, Fares & Stops

The Piedmont connects Raleigh, NC and Charlotte, NC over a 173-mile route operated by Amtrak (NCDOT), calling at 9 stations across 1 state.

Quick Facts

Operator: Amtrak (NCDOT)
Service type: State-Supported Corridor
Endpoints: Raleigh ↔ Charlotte
Distance: 173 mi
Frequency: Four daily round trips
Stations: 9
States served: 1 (NC)
Typical fare range: $18 – $68

Route guide

The Piedmont is a state-supported corridor service operated by Amtrak (NCDOT). Trains run Four daily round trips over 173 miles of mainline track between Raleigh Union Station and Charlotte, calling at 9 intermediate and terminal stations across 1 state. For background reading on the corridor, several archival route histories are available alongside the operator's own marketing pages.

What to watch for: Tobacco-belt farmland and the historic textile mill towns of the Carolina Piedmont.

History & service notes

NCDOT owns the locomotives and equipment for the Piedmont and contracts Amtrak for operations — one of the most successful state-supported services in the country. Riders interested in pre-Amtrak operating history of the line can consult classic timetable archives for fuller context.

Equipment

Typical consist on the Piedmont includes f59PHI locomotives and refurbished Pullman-Standard heritage coaches. 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 Raleigh to Charlotte. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.

Raleigh Union Station — Raleigh, NC RGH
Cary — Cary, NC CYN
Durham — Durham, NC DNC
Burlington, NC — Burlington, NC BNC
Greensboro — Greensboro, NC GRO
High Point — High Point, NC HPT
Salisbury — Salisbury, NC SAL
Kannapolis — Kannapolis, NC KAN
Charlotte — Charlotte, NC CLT

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
Raleigh	Cary	22 mi	36m	$9 – $32
Cary	Durham	22 mi	36m	$9 – $32
Durham	Burlington	22 mi	36m	$9 – $32
Burlington	Greensboro	22 mi	36m	$9 – $32
Greensboro	High Point	22 mi	36m	$9 – $32
High Point	Salisbury	22 mi	36m	$9 – $32
Salisbury	Kannapolis	22 mi	36m	$9 – $32
Kannapolis	Charlotte	22 mi	36m	$9 – $32
Cary	Charlotte	151 mi	3h 11m	$17 – $63
Raleigh	Durham	43 mi	1h 2m	$10 – $37
Durham	Charlotte	130 mi	2h 46m	$15 – $58
Raleigh	Burlington	65 mi	1h 28m	$11 – $43
Burlington	Charlotte	108 mi	2h 20m	$14 – $53
Raleigh	Greensboro	87 mi	1h 54m	$13 – $48
Greensboro	Charlotte	87 mi	1h 54m	$13 – $48
Raleigh	High Point	108 mi	2h 20m	$14 – $53
High Point	Charlotte	65 mi	1h 28m	$11 – $43
Raleigh	Salisbury	130 mi	2h 46m	$15 – $58

Connections & transfers

Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From Raleigh, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at Charlotte. The corridor passes through cities including Raleigh, Cary, 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 Piedmont'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.