Where New Rail Stations Should Be

Since initial funding has recently been designated for a passenger rail line connecting Raleigh and Wilmington, it's crucial to ensure that it is designed to benefit as many people as possible. Some key considerations include travel time, cost, and station locations. Here are my thoughts on the best station locations.

Raleigh to Wilmington Potential Passenger Rail Corridor

Obviously, there need to be stations in Raleigh and Wilmington. Since Raleigh already has a station, the station in Wilmington should be constructed within walking distance of the downtown Padgett station, which is being used primarily by WAVE transit but also is a stop for the downtown trolley.

Fortunately, the station in Goldsboro still exists, but it needs to be restored to its former appearance. Historically, Goldsboro was an important rail intersection, where trains traveling north from Wilmington to Virginia met the rail line from Raleigh to the coast.

Goldsboro Union Station

Amtrak passenger rail between the Northeast and Florida will cross the line we are discussing at Selma. Obviously, that will be an important transfer point, and we must have a station there.

Clayton is in a heavily populated area, essentially suburban Raleigh. The people living nearby should be able to utilize the rail line we are planning.

The people of Burgaw need to be praised for preserving their former rail station. They recognized its historic importance and took great pride in using it to acquaint people with the area's past. Undoubtedly, allowing this station to function in its former way again would be a testament to all who understand its past.

Burgaw Train Depot

Since the rail line would pass through Duplin County, we would be remiss if we did not allow those people the opportunity to travel by rail in a convenient location. Either Wallace or Warsaw could be the location for a station. The Wallace area has a larger population, but Warsaw is more centrally located within the county. Perhaps it should be added that Warsaw is about halfway between Burgaw and Goldsboro. Constructing a suitable station is another consideration. Ultimately, Duplin County Commissioners need to provide input on the best location.

Wallace Train Depot

The final possible location for a station could be Wilmington International Airport, but this is more complicated. Eight airlines currently utilize the airport for arrivals and departures daily between 7 am and 11 pm. Since only three rail roundtrips, Raleigh and Wilmington, are under consideration, it is not reasonable to suspect that many travelers would be willing to wait for a train to coordinate their travel plans. Presently, the best way to meet their needs would be to have a bus shuttle operate between the airport and downtown, independent from current WAVE routes.

In the future, a rail shuttle could replace the bus shuttle. That would depend on the projected ridership and the cost. It would be a mistake to allow the additional cost of the rail shuttle to be part of the cost of completing the Raleigh-Wilmington rail line. That could adversely affect the funding and delay the overall project's completion.

(Written by Andrew Koeppel, a former member of the WAVE Transit Board, a commercial Realtor, and author of the book “Wilmington Then and Now.”)

Andrew Koeppel, a former member of the WAVE Transit Board, a commercial Realtor, and author of the book “Wilmington Then and Now.”