Amtrak train #73, the Piedmont, passes through Raleigh, North Carolina, on September 8, 2018. The train, heading from Raleigh to Charlotte, is led by Amtrak F59PHI 470, and has RNCX F59PH 1893 "City of Burlington" on the rear. The locomotives and cars are owned by North Carolina's Department of Transportation, and are leased to Amtrak for this service. Amtrak F59PHIs 461 (formerly in Pacific Surfliner service in southern California) and 470 (from the Pacific Northwest's Cascades trains) are in service on North Carolina's trains in order to fill in for cab control cars that have been sent to Norfolk Southern's Juniata Shops (in Altoona PA) while they get traction motors installed, as some recent power fiascos have shown the value of a powered unit available on each end. These F59PHIs are also being used to cover Positive Train Control (PTC) testing as well.
Three north-south routes cross the Carolinas. Auto Train runs through here, too. Also, the State of North Carolina sponsors the Piedmont service and supports the Carolinian.
