The North Carolina Train

conductor

so.much.space!

beautiful scenery

durham station

from Durham UK to Durham Carolina!

the conductor

This past Thursday I wanted to head up to see my sister at Carolina and some of my old friends play in their band.  I didn't have a spare car, and gathered courage to catch the train.  I had hear stories of friends of friends getting robbed there so I was a little nervous.  Overall impression? I simply LOVED it!! 

1. They let you check in baggage like it's an airplane. 

2. The conductors take your tickets on board. 

3. The seats are like first class on an airplane: footrests, power sockets, curtains. 

4. Complimentary tea and coffee!

5. Conductor comes around and makes sure you know when to get off. 

6. The scenery is beautiful and you go through places you wouldn't see in a car. 

7. The North Carolina state seal decorates the windows. 

8. The stations are clean and have church pews as seats. Beautiful and old.

Slight cons: 

1. It does take a little longer and makes frequent stops

2. The whistle blows every time you're near a town, which is often. 

I take the train so often to the UK Durham, it was such a thrill to take the train to the US Durham. The trains don't have a separate track as the cargo lines, so the trains themselves were much bigger than ones in the UK. But, being on a cargo line, means frequent stops through towns which makes it all a bit slower going. The conductor's personalability was charming, taking your ticket like it was something in an old movie. Would highly recommend it to anyone travelling, especially with small children as they have family seats. Better than that, you arrive less drained and weary than if you were in a car. So yes yes yes, well done Old North State!