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NC Bullet Train
Since the spring of 2016, the Piedmonts have
run with
an engine at both ends. The seats in each coach have been reconfigured so that
half face forward and half face backwards. When the cars were originally reconstructed,
they were outfitted with multiple unit (MU) cables. These
allow the engines to work together as one, even though they are located in different parts of the train.
This configuration started during track construction for the new Raleigh station since there was no way to turn
the trains there at that time. Afterwards, in June 2018, it helped to utilize this configuration
when the fourth frequency between Raleigh and Charlotte was added. With less time between arrivals
and departures at Charlotte, there isn't enough time to turn the trains. NCDOT has purchased
additional locomotives which will be refurbished, but will have the prime movers removed.
These will serve as operating platforms for the engineer.
When the two newest locomotives, 1755 and 1797, are used in this push+pull operation,
to me it looks like an NC version of a bullet train. Here is a video of train 73 stopping at
the Cary station in late May, 2016. The video was shot by
Susan Bobinyec.
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