NC By Train Sets All‑Time Ridership Record in October 2025 as U.S. Transit Agencies Launch Major Upgrades

North Carolina’s state‑supported passenger rail network just notched the biggest month in its 35‑year history — and it’s doing so at the same time major transit systems from Washington, D.C. to Boston and Albuquerque roll out new investment plans and security upgrades.

In October 2025, NC By Train carried 74,400 passengers, the highest monthly total since the service launched in 1990 and almost 10% more riders than in October 2024, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). ^[1]

Transportation trade press, national industry groups and local media have all amplified the record this week, turning what started as a state press release into one of the most talked‑about passenger‑rail stories in the country. ^[2]

NC By Train’s Biggest Month Ever

NCDOT’s Rail Division says NC By Train — which subsidizes Amtrak’s Piedmont and Carolinian routes — “continues to break ridership records in 2025.” In October, the service hit: ^[3]

74,400 passengers in a single month
Nearly 10% year‑over‑year growth versus October 2024
The highest monthly ridership in the program’s 35‑year history

From January through October 2025, NC By Train has already carried 608,300 riders, up about 4% compared with the same period last year (584,600). ^[4]

The state projects that by the end of December, the network is on track to break its 2024 annual ridership record of more than 720,000 passengers, marking a fourth straight year of all‑time highs. ^[5]

NCDOT Rail Division Director Jason Orthner said the momentum reflects how more North Carolinians are rediscovering the convenience of intercity rail:

He described NC By Train as a comfortable, affordable and “stress‑free” way to travel for work, school, big events or family visits. ^[6]

Four Straight Years of Growth

The October record caps a remarkable four‑year streak for NC By Train’s ridership: ^[7]

2022: 522,000 passengers
2023: 641,000 passengers
2024: more than 720,000 passengers
2025 (projected): on pace to surpass 2024’s record

Earlier this year, NCDOT reported that ridership in the first half of 2025 was already up 4% over the first half of 2024, with about 355,000 trips made between January and June. Every station along the Raleigh–Charlotte Piedmont corridor saw boarding and alighting increases between 5% and 13%. ^[8]

This sustained growth puts North Carolina among a group of states where state‑supported Amtrak services have now exceeded their pre‑pandemic ridership — often by a wide margin — thanks to added frequencies, targeted marketing and event‑focused trains. ^[9]

Why Riders Are Choosing NC By Train

More Daily Trips Between Raleigh and Charlotte

One of the biggest drivers of growth has been more frequent service. NC By Train and Amtrak now operate multiple daily Piedmont departures each way between Raleigh and Charlotte, plus the long‑distance Carolinian that continues north to Richmond, Washington, D.C. and New York. ^[10]

NCDOT says the addition and adjustment of daily trip options since 2023 — including a fifth round‑trip on the Raleigh–Charlotte corridor — is drawing in both regular commuters and occasional leisure travelers who value schedule flexibility. ^[11]

Special Event Trains: Panthers Games, Fairs and “Ale Trail”

The record month comes after NC By Train doubled down on special event trains, which routinely sell out:

“Football Train” Panthers service: On select game days, additional trains and adjusted schedules bring fans from Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro and other cities to Charlotte in time for 1 p.m. kickoffs at Bank of America Stadium. ^[12]
State Fair & Lexington Barbecue Festival: Seasonal stops and extra capacity serve big fall events that traditionally draw heavy car traffic on I‑40 and I‑85. ^[13]
Ale Trail by Rail: A campaign tying rail trips to craft‑beer tourism between Raleigh and Charlotte has given the service a lifestyle‑travel angle that resonates with younger riders. ^[14]

Orthner has noted that these trains often produce a “sea of blue” jerseys onboard for Panthers games and that special services now routinely reach capacity. ^[15]

Amenities, Discounts and Group Deals

Beyond schedule tweaks, NC By Train has tried to make the onboard experience competitive with — or better than — driving: ^[16]

Large reclining seats with generous legroom
Power outlets and free Wi‑Fi at every seat
Cafe offerings or complimentary beverages on select services
A roster of discounts for children, students, seniors, active‑duty military and veterans
“Share Fare” group pricing that lowers the per‑person ticket cost for up to eight travelers

Local coverage from eastern North Carolina outlet WITN and regional publications like Columbus County News has emphasized that these amenities and discounts are particularly attractive to families and small groups who might otherwise carpool. ^[17]

Local Story, National Attention

What started on November 17 as an NCDOT press release has quickly propagated through: ^[18]

Local TV and digital outlets (WITN, CBS17/WNCN) highlighting the record for general audiences
Regional newspapers and news sites such as Columbus County News, which framed the service as a “state train network” breaking records
Industry trade media including Railway Age, which paired the NC By Train story with national transit developments, and Trains magazine, which has chronicled several earlier records for the service
Professional transportation channels, with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) featuring the ridership milestone in its Daily Transportation Update published today (Nov. 19). ^[19]

The storyline is straightforward but powerful: sustained state investment, more frequent trains and targeted marketing have turned what was once a niche service into a mainstream travel option in one of the nation’s fastest‑growing states.

Washington Region Backs $460 Million‑a‑Year Plan to Modernize Metro

NC By Train’s record isn’t happening in isolation. This week’s transit news cycle also includes a major funding plan for Washington, D.C.’s Metro system.

On November 17, the boards of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) jointly endorsed the DMV Moves plan — a package of recommendations that calls for $460 million in new annual capital funding for Metro starting in fiscal year 2028. ^[20]

Key points of the proposal include: ^[21]

The funding would grow by 3% per year, creating a predictable, dedicated stream for long‑term capital needs.
Money would pay for modern signaling, fleet upgrades and selective platform screen doors, all aimed at improving safety, reliability and capacity.
A new bond program would help maintain the system in a state of good repair.
The plan envisions a more integrated regional network linking Metro rail and bus with commuter rail (MARC and Virginia Railway Express) and local bus operators across D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

The DMV Moves recommendations also lay out non‑financial actions: expanding bus‑priority lanes on key corridors, harmonizing fare discounts (including free rides for children and consistent low‑income policies) and standardizing customer information such as bus stop design. ^[22]

WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke called the joint endorsement a “pivotal moment” and argued that a well‑funded Metro is “essential to our region’s economic vitality,” while COG leaders framed the plan as a unified strategy the region must now turn into actual legislation in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. ^[23]

MBTA to Gate South Station Commuter Rail Platforms

In Boston, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is preparing a different kind of transit upgrade: fare gates for its busiest commuter‑rail hub.

Installation of 40 new fare gates at South Station began in early September, with the goal of putting them into operation this winter. ^[24]

According to MBTA and local coverage: ^[25]

The layout will include 11 wider, fully accessible gates to accommodate wheelchairs, strollers, bikes and luggage.
Once active, riders will tap or scan their tickets both to enter and exit, similar to the subway.
The gates are designed to replace on‑platform ticket checks and standardize the fare‑paying experience across modes.

Transit officials have estimated that uncollected fares on commuter‑rail services leaving South Station have cost the agency $10–20 million annually, or roughly 4–8% of potential revenue — significantly above industry norms. ^[26]

MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng has argued that gating the station is both a revenue‑protection measure and a way to support more frequent and reliable service, stressing that riders “have a right to expect” the authority to safeguard the fares that fund operations. ^[27]

South Station is expected to be followed by fare‑gate installations at Ruggles Station in winter 2025/26 and Back Bay in early 2026, extending gated access across more of the commuter‑rail network. ^[28]

Rail Runner Express Adds Onboard Security Cameras

Further west, New Mexico’s Rail Runner Express commuter rail is leaning into onboard security technology.

The system’s operator, Rio Metro Regional Transit District, plans to install six surveillance cameras in each of its 22 bilevel coaches, with full deployment expected early next year. ^[29]

According to Rail Runner officials quoted by regional media, the cameras will be monitored in real time, aligning the system with practices already common on many U.S. commuter railroads and urban transit systems. The goal is to deter crime, support investigations when incidents do occur and reassure passengers that “safety is the most important thing” onboard. ^[30]

The nearly 100‑mile Rail Runner line connects Santa Fe and Belen via Albuquerque, providing a backbone commuter link in the state. ^[31]

Key Numbers at a Glance

74,400 – NC By Train passengers in October 2025 (highest month ever) ^[32]
608,300 – Riders carried January–October 2025 (4% increase vs. 2024) ^[33]
522k → 641k → 720k+ – NC By Train annual ridership totals for 2022, 2023 and 2024 ^[34]
$460 million per year – Proposed new dedicated Metro capital funding in the Washington region starting FY 2028 ^[35]
6 cameras per car, 22 cars – Planned security camera rollout on New Mexico’s Rail Runner Express commuter rail ^[36]

A Turning Point for Passenger Rail

Taken together, this week’s developments suggest that U.S. passenger rail and transit are still in a period of quiet but significant transformation:

States like North Carolina are proving that reliable, frequent corridor services can win riders away from congested highways when paired with good marketing and event‑oriented schedules. ^[37]
Major metro areas are working to secure long‑term, dedicated funding streams that allow agencies like WMATA to plan for modernization beyond year‑to‑year budget fights. ^[38]
Agencies are investing in fare technology and security — from MBTA’s South Station gates to Rail Runner’s onboard cameras — to reduce revenue leakage, improve safety and rebuild public confidence. ^[39]

For North Carolinians specifically, the message is simple: more trains are running, more people are riding and more investment is likely coming. If current trends hold, NC By Train may close out 2025 with yet another record — and serve as a model for other states looking to grow their own passenger rail networks.

NC By Train breaks record for ridership in October