WARSAW – The Department of Transportation hosts a discussion about the proposed passenger train line between Raleigh and Wilmington on Tuesday, Feb. 20, in Warsaw. The turnout is expected to have over 100 people in attendance.
Steve Unger, President of Eastern Carolina Rail sat down with The Duplin Times to share the details of this announcement. Unger noted that Eastern Carolina Rail is a non-profit composed of volunteer lobbyists that have completed the first leg of research for the new train and encourages interested people to reach out to legislators and the DOT to show their support.
Unger explained that “economic values for towns along the way are very important,” since the train will run through Duplin County. Unger continued, “one stop in Duplin co can provide the same shot in the arm that the railroad provided in the 1800s.”
Eastern Carolina Rail hopes that passengers will boost the economy of towns along the way to Raleigh from Wilmington. Passengers could include anyone from “retirees, businessmen, people traveling for pleasure who would like to attend social, cultural and sporting events,” outside of traveling for work.