$1B Grant for Raleigh to Richmond Rail Line

A $1 billion grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will allow North Carolina to progress on its Raleigh to Richmond Rail Line.

Courtesy of North Carolina Department of Transportation

RALEIGH, N.C. – A $1 billion grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will allow North Carolina to progress on its Raleigh to Richmond Rail Line.

A $1 billion grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will allow North Carolina to progress on its Raleigh to Richmond Rail Line, according to Spectrum News. The project has been in the works for 20+ years, and if completed, it would cut down on travel time for passengers travelling between Raleigh, N.C. and Richmond, VA.

The S-Line Project would connect both capitals, and the grant is a “big win for economic development in the region,” says Senator Thom Tillis. He went on to express his pride in “this investment” and how it was “made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I helped negotiate, write, and pass into law.” The S-Line is a freight rail corridor that is owned by CSX and runs from Richmond to Tampa, Fla.

The route is 162 miles between Raleigh and Richmond and would “add service to Wake Forest, Henderson and Norlina, North Carolina.” Currently, the passenger rail service to Richmond from Raleigh, Johnston County and through Rocky Mount at maximum speeds of 80 mph. According to the report, NC transit officials say with the new rail line, trains could hit “110 mph or faster.”

In addition, the plan includes a section of high-speed rail from Charlotte, NC to Atlanta, and extending to Miami in the future. At the time of reporting, there has not been any details on exactly how the grant will be allocated. However, Senator Tillis has reportedly said both Amtrak and the North Carolina Department of Transportation match 20% of the federal grant. Also, “half of the federal funding will come in the current federal fiscal year, with the rest coming between 2024 and 2026.”