NC By Train ridership record was set in October, when North Carolina’s state-sponsored intercity passenger-rail service logged its strongest month yet for intercity passenger rail, as reported by Progressive Railroading.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

NC By Train ridership record set in October
Photo: North Carolina Department of Transportation

NC By Train ridership record and growth since 2022

According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) in a recent press release, 74,400 passengers rode NC By Train in October — a nearly 10% increase over October 2024 ridership. That figure is the highest monthly ridership in the service’s 35 years of operation and shows that demand has been building steadily.

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From January through October, NC By Train carried 608,300 passengers, up from 584,600 riders over the same period in 2024 — a 4% gain year over year. NCDOT officials note that NC By Train ridership has consistently grown since 2022 and that the service is on track to break its overall annual ridership record again in 2025, a trajectory also highlighted by Railway Supply. That means more passengers are choosing NC By Train across North Carolina.

NC By Train routes, stations and special event trains

To sustain this ridership growth, NCDOT has added more daily trips in recent years and introduced special event trains, including services for Carolina Panthers NFL football games. These extra trains give passengers more flexibility around major events.

Today, NC By Train operates six routes with stops at 16 stations across North Carolina, forming a passenger-rail network that links communities around the state. Together, the additional frequencies, special event services and the growing NC By Train ridership record illustrate the expanding role of passenger rail in North Carolina.

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