WARSAW, N.C. (WECT) – A rail symposium on a proposed passenger line between Wilmington and Raleigh will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 20, in Warsaw.
The event will take place at the Warsaw Community Center (309 Memorial Drive) at 6 pm, and is co-hosted by the Town of Warsaw and Warsaw Chamber of Commerce.
“On behalf of the Town of Warsaw and the Mayor’s office we are outstandingly grateful to host this venture,” said Mayor Dr. A.J. Connors. “We welcome all who are able to attend this conference session. This is an opportunity to bring an energy saving system of travel to our community.”
Gene Merritt, one of the founders of Eastern Carolina Rail, will be the featured speaker.
Eastern Carolina Rail is a non-profit organization that wants to return passenger rail service from Raleigh to Wilmington by way of Goldsboro. Current plans would call for up to three trains per day in both directions, running between 70 and 80 mph, making the trip under three hours.
“It is very exciting news that a passenger Rail system will connect Cities in Eastern Carolina for commerce and for recreation” said Warsaw Chamber President Frank Rhodes. “This will help ensure that we have much needed transportation not only for now, but well into the future.”
Organizers say that the meeting on Feb. 20 is expected to last about an hour.
“At the symposium, NC DOT Rail will be providing updated information including a timeline for the possible return of passenger trains,” a news release states. “The Raleigh to Wilmington corridor was recently selected for a $500,000 federal grant that is part of a program to identify rail corridors for scope, schedules, and cost estimates to establish future passenger service. A timetable of seven to 12 years is estimated to take the project to completion if it is approved.”
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