Raleigh Union Station

Raleigh Union Station

Raleigh Union Station is an intercity passenger rail station located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. The station opened for Amtrak service on July 10, 2018, replacing the former Raleigh Amtrak station on Cabarrus Street. It is located at 510 W. Martin Street in the city’s Warehouse District (Raleigh).

Background

Planning for Raleigh Union Station began in the mid-2010s as part of a broader effort to modernize passenger rail facilities in Raleigh and support increased rail service in the state. Construction of the station building began in January 2016, with track and signal work beginning later that year.

The project reused a former industrial building that had been vacant since 2005. City materials describe the reuse of the structure as a way to preserve elements of the area’s industrial character while adapting it for passenger rail use.

The station’s opening was delayed several times. Local media reported that issues related to the passenger platform slope contributed to the delay prior to the July 2018 opening.

Design and facilities

The station building is approximately 26,000 square feet, with 9,200 square feet devoted to passenger waiting and support areas. This represented a substantial increase over the size of the former Cabarrus Street station.

The station includes an underground pedestrian concourse connecting the building to a center island platform. Metal panels salvaged from the original industrial structure were incorporated into the concourse interior as part of the station’s design.

The platform is approximately 920 feet long and provides level boarding for trains. City materials described it as the first high-level rail platform in North Carolina when it opened.

Passenger rail service

Raleigh Union Station serves Amtrak passenger rail routes operating through Raleigh. At the time of opening, services included state-supported routes between Raleigh and Charlotte, as well as long-distance service on the Silver Star connecting North Carolina to the northeastern United States and Florida.

Station access, parking, and passenger information are maintained by the City of Raleigh as the facility owner.

Bus facility and multimodal connections

A separate but adjacent facility known as the Raleigh Union Station Bus Facility was developed to support regional and commuter bus service near the rail station. GoTriangle held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the bus facility on July 25, 2025, with bus service beginning shortly thereafter.

Regional news coverage described the bus facility as a downtown transit hub designed to improve connections between rail and bus service in Raleigh. WRAL reported that the project was supported by a federal BUILD grant and that construction occurred during the early 2020s.

Planned and related improvements

Transportation planning documents produced by the City of Raleigh identify additional improvements in the area surrounding Raleigh Union Station. These include the proposed West Street Extension, a Complete Streets project intended to improve pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle connections serving the station area.

City Council work session materials presented in 2024 discussed future rail improvements at Raleigh Union Station, including the development of an additional platform and concourse associated with planned S-Line passenger rail service. City staff described these improvements as necessary to expand capacity and accommodate additional trains.

See also

• Transportation in Raleigh
• Warehouse District (Raleigh)
• Amtrak