TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

WEST

VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA

NORTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA

GEORGIA

ALABAMA

FLORIDA

Washington

Richmond

Raleigh

Atlanta

Miami

Charlotte

Nashville

Tampa

Orlando

Louisville

Columbia

Charleston

Charleston

Greensboro

Savannah

Lynchburg Petersburg

Norfolk

Newport News

Jacksonville

Birmingham

Chattanooga

Memphis

Mobile

Montgomery

Crescent

Cardinal

City of New Orleans

Silver Star

Silver Star/Silver Meteor

Crescent

Silver Meteor/Palmetto

Piedmont

Carolinian

Northeast

Regional

Population Density

Low High

Regional (90-125 mph)

Emerging (up to 90 mph)

Amtrak Long-Distance Route

Corridor Planning

Class I Railroad

N 50 miles

Core Express (125+ mph)

LEGEND

Several of the metropolitan areas in the Southeast are among the fastest growing in the

nation, and the states have recognized the need to invest in a diverse network of

transportation options that will accommodate this population growth.

Connecting the District of Columbia, Virginia and North Carolina: FRA has awarded

approximately $75 million in High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program funds to

improve service quality and reliability for the six corridor and four long-distance trains that

operate daily between Washington, DC and Richmond, VA, and to points south. Also, FRA

has awarded approximately $48 million in HSIPR program funds to complete preliminary

engineering and environmental review for the development of the Southeast High Speed

Rail (SEHSR) corridor between Washington, DC and Raleigh, NC via Richmond, VA.

Enhancing the Piedmont Corridor: FRA has awarded approximately $570 million in HSIPR

program funds to increase capacity and improve service quality and reliability for the three

corridor trains that operate daily between Raleigh and Charlotte, and support the addition

of a fourth corridor train. This program includes the rehabilitation of 12 rail cars and ve

locomotives for use in the third and fourth corridor train frequencies, and the

enhancement of stations and maintenance facilities. Construction is currently underway on

new roadway grade separations between Raleigh and Charlotte.

Reducing congestion between Virginia and North Carolina: A HSIPR grant of

$26.6 million will improve reliability and service quality between Petersburg, VA and

Raleigh, NC (via Selma), strengthening connections between the Northeast Corridor and

long-distance passenger routes serving the southeast.

Connecting Atlanta to Charlotte: In 2011, the Georgia Department of Transportation

(GDOT) received a $4.1 million grant to complete a service development plan and

environmental study for the 250 mile passenger rail corridor between Atlanta and

Charlotte. GDOT is contributing $1.125 million for this phase of the project. This study will

build upon a 2008 feasibility study of high-speed rail on this corridor.

NORTH CAROLINA FLORIDA VIRGINIA

DURHAM WEST VIRGINIA GEORGIA

Above image: ickr user h0tgrits; all other images: Wikimedia Commons

America’s Rail Network: Southeast Region
Global Rank

(comparable to)

(Russia)

6

(Egypt)

30

(Thailand)

20

68M

25% of U.S.

$2.8 Trillion

19% of U.S.

386,000 sq. mi.

11% of U.S.

-

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

Passe

n

g

ers (in th

o

usan

ds)

+82%

Since 2005

59%

Served

HSIPR TIGER RRIF Other Total More Trains/

NewService Faster Travel BetterReliability

Improved

Stations/

Equipment

Charlotte - Raleigh - Richmond - Washington DC 479 $695 $22 - $2 $718

Track and signal improvementsto allow for additional daily roundtrips; enhanced safety and reliability;study of alternative alignments

between Richmond and Raleigh.

   

Atlanta - Charlotte 258 $4 - - - $4 Planning to lay groundwork for future rail service.

Other AtlantaHub Corridors Varies $1 - - - $1 Planning to lay groundwork for future rail service from Atlanta to

Nashville,Jacksonville, Birmingham, and other destinations.

Tampa -Orlando - Miami 364 $32 - - - $32 Planning to lay groundwork for future rail service.

Other Corridors/ Freight Investments n/a - - $153 $13 $166 Improvementsto freight corridorsthroughout the region.

State Rail Plans n/a $1 - - - $1 Planning to lay groundwork for future rail service.

TOTAL $733 $22 $153 $15 $922

Federal Investments ($M, 2008-2012) Service Improvements

Corridor Distance

(miles) Investment Description

varies

planning

planning

planning

planning

Southeast Region

SOURCES : Population: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010. Economy: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2010. 

International Statistics: CIA World Factbook, 2012. All Other Information: Federal Railroad Administration, 2012.

Population within 30 miles of a passenger station 

that receives at least one daily intercity train.

Region Characteristics Population Served

Corridor Details

Ridership Growth

$

Population

Economy

Land Area