Piedmont Train With Kids: Every Stop, Named Engines and Kids Fares
Looking for an easy first train ride with kids in the Southeast? The Piedmont is it: four round trips a day between Raleigh and Charlotte, about three hours end to end, and kids 2 to 12 ride for half the adult fare. North Carolina owns these trains, coaches and locomotives both, and many engines carry the name of a North Carolina town. With trains running all day, you can ride out in the morning and come home after lunch.
The short version
- Four trains a day each way between Raleigh and Charlotte, about 3 hours 10 minutes end to end.
- Kids 2 to 12 pay half the adult fare, and one lap baby under 2 rides free with each adult.
- It’s coach only, with no Business Class; food means vending machines plus free coffee and water in the lounge car.
- Watch for skipped stops: trains 71 and 76 both pass Burlington, High Point and Salisbury without stopping.
- Make it a game to read the engine’s name, like City of Greensboro or Town of Cary.
Piedmont at a glance
- Runs between
- Raleigh Union Station and Charlotte, North Carolina
- States
- North Carolina only
- Distance
- about 173 miles
- End to end
- about 3 hours to 3 hours 20 minutes
- Trains
- four round trips per day (trains 71 to 78)
- Train cars
- single-level coaches and lounge cars owned by NCDOT, pulled by NCDOT locomotives
- Four-seat tables
- not promised; Amtrak says some seats face backward
- Upstairs seating
- none, every car is one level
- Quiet Car
- none listed on Amtrak’s Piedmont page
- Food
- NCDOT lounge car with vending machines and free coffee and water; no cafe counter
- Sleeper rooms
- none
- Checked bags
- Amtrak lists checked baggage service on this route; bikes ride in trainside racks
Look inside the book
Piedmont day trip? Pack pretzels and Rally.
You can read Rally Takes the Train twice on the Greensboro to High Point hop. Flip through a few pages here first.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Do kids need a ticket on the Piedmont?
Everyone 2 and older needs a ticket. Kids 2 to 12 pay half the adult price when they ride with an adult 18 or older, and one baby under 2 can ride free on each adult’s lap. Because the Piedmont is coach only, that half-price rule covers every seat on the train.
NC By Train, the state program that runs the Piedmont with Amtrak, sells the same fares on ncbytrain.org and calls it Kids Under 12 Ride for Half Off Every Day. Read the fine print, though: the child discount doesn’t apply on certain Amtrak Thruway connecting services. That matters here, because the NC Amtrak Connector buses that meet Piedmont trains at High Point run to Winston-Salem.
The state has done bigger kids deals before, like $5 child tickets on in-state trains in summer 2023. In October 2026 the NC By Train deals page showed no kids promotion like that. It did list a 15 percent Multi-Ride Pass and a Piedmont & Carolinian Share Fare, so if you’ll ride often, price out both.
Headed to the fair? During the North Carolina State Fair, October 15 to 25 in 2026, Piedmont trains add a stop at the fairgrounds. Amtrak’s fair page points families to its everyday discounts, which run from 10 to 50 percent for kids, seniors, veterans and military.
Free for train families
Print the free Piedmont activity book
A stop tracker for all 11 stops, a word search full of Piedmont stops, window bingo, a maze, a ticket to fill in and a page to draw the view. It fits in a folder with a few crayons and weighs nothing in the diaper bag.
Get the free Piedmont activity bookEvery Piedmont stop, from Raleigh to Charlotte
There are nine everyday Piedmont stations, plus two event platforms: the State Fair stop in Raleigh (fair dates only) and Lexington (Barbecue Festival day only). Not every train stops everywhere, so check the timetable if you’re headed to Burlington, High Point, Salisbury or Kannapolis.
North Carolina- Raleigh Union StationLook for: Fun fact for the platform: Raleigh was planned from day one as a state capital. Its old Greek Revival capitol still stands on its own square downtown.
- Raleigh, North Carolina State Fair (fair dates only)Look for: This seasonal stop is one platform across the tracks from the fairgrounds. The waiting area is usually a tent at Blue Ridge Road and Hillsborough Street, so look for that.
- CaryLook for: Point out the brick depot from 1996 in downtown Cary. Amtrak says the town is known for being bicycle friendly and carefully planned.
- Durham
- BurlingtonLook for: Tell them this station was once the North Carolina Railroad engine house, the last piece of a big railroad repair yard from the mid-1800s.
- Greensboro (J. Douglas Galyon Depot)
- High PointLook for: This 1907 Southern Railway depot is still here because townspeople fought to save it. Workers rebuilt its foundation and braced the roof and walls.
- Lexington Barbecue Festival (festival day only)Look for: On festival day the train has stopped at the Lexington Hospitality Center, just one block from the barbecue festival.
- Salisbury
- KannapolisLook for: Have them look up at the cupola on this red brick Colonial Revival station, dedicated in 2005. Then ask what they think a cupola is for.
- CharlotteLook for: Southern Railway built this station in 1962 for passengers and its division offices. It sits in a busy rail yard northeast of downtown, so keep watching for trains.
What kids can see from the Piedmont
Read the engine’s name
North Carolina owns the Piedmont fleet, and its locomotives have names. The list includes City of Greensboro, City of High Point, City of Durham, Town of Cary, City of Burlington, City of Kannapolis, City of Salisbury and City of Asheville. Before you board, walk down the platform, read the name on the side of the engine, and ask your kid whether this train ever stops in that town.
The passenger cars have names too. The state named its coaches after North Carolina landmarks and symbols, and its lounge cars after estuaries along the coast. The fleet also has cab control cars, which let the engineer drive from the far end, so don’t be surprised if your engine is pushing from the back.
Which side to sit on
The line runs on a long diagonal, with Raleigh in the northeast and Charlotte in the southwest. On morning trains toward Raleigh, sun streams in on the right-hand side, and on afternoon trains toward Charlotte, it comes in ahead and to the right. Got a napper who wakes up in bright light? Take the left.
A young train with a long backstory
The Piedmont started on May 26, 1995, after years of delay. Part of the holdup was Charlotte’s station, which couldn’t turn trains around, so Norfolk Southern required a wye, a triangle of track for turning, to be built there. A second daily round trip came in 2010, a third in 2018 and a fourth on July 10, 2023, and the current Raleigh stop, Raleigh Union Station, opened to trains in July 2018.
What’s coming
NCDOT won federal money in October 2024 for 26 new cars and 6 new engines, with construction expected to begin in 2026. In January 2025 it also got a $14 million grant to add cafe car service. Until that shows up, plan on vending machines.
Where to sit with kids on the Piedmont
Every seat is a reserved coach seat. You’re promised a seat on the train you booked, but you can’t pick which one. Amtrak notes that some Piedmont seats face forward and some backward, with no guarantee either way, and there’s no Business Class car on this route.
We think of the lounge car as the family spot. It has the vending machines and the free coffee and water, and it gives a wiggly toddler somewhere to walk to. Go together, though, since the cars sway on curves.
Bringing more than kids? Bikes ride in trainside racks with a reservation, and small dogs and cats can travel under Amtrak’s pet program. Car seats can’t be fastened to the seats, so lap babies ride on a parent.
Got split up on the Piedmont? What to try
Nobody picks seats on the Piedmont, since there’s no Business Class. A ticket holds you a spot on that train, not a particular chair, so keep the whole crew on one booking and reach the platform early. If an agent at Raleigh Union Station or Charlotte calls for families with young kids, step right up.
Ended up apart? Rides are short, so move fast. Check up and down your coach, then the one behind it, for a free pair. In the meantime take whatever is close, one row back or just over the aisle. Asking a neighbor to swap works best before they get comfy: “We have a two-year-old. Any chance you’d switch?” Your offer should match what they have, same side of the car and same direction, and nobody should get talked into a backward seat. A polite no is still an answer; smile and move on.
The conductor can lend a hand. When tickets get checked, explain who’s with you and how young they are, and ask if a different coach has room. They’re able to direct you to empty spots and ask riders to shift bags, because bags don’t get a seat, but they won’t evict anybody. Even on the 20-minute Greensboro to High Point hop, a young child sits with you.
The best first Piedmont ride with kids
The Piedmont was made for round trips, with trains leaving each end four times a day. Times below come from the current Amtrak timetable, and some trains run a few minutes later on weekends.
- Raleigh to Durham, about 30 minutes. Hop on train 73 at 10:00 a.m. and you’re in Durham at about 10:32 a.m. Head home on train 74, which leaves Durham at 5:01 p.m. and reaches Raleigh at 5:36 p.m.
- Charlotte to Salisbury, about 40 minutes. Train 72 leaves Charlotte at 10:25 a.m. and stops in Salisbury at 11:06 a.m. Train 75 heads back from Salisbury at 3:11 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 3:28 p.m. on other days.
- Greensboro to High Point, under 20 minutes. Train 73 makes the hop around 11:35 a.m., and train 74 brings you back from High Point at 3:35 p.m. It’s the shortest real train ride on the line, about right for a two-year-old’s attention span.
One warning: skip the 6:30 a.m. train 71 if you want a small-town stop, because it passes Burlington, High Point and Salisbury. Train 76 skips the same three, and trains 77 and 78 skip Kannapolis.
Food, bathrooms and naps on the Piedmont
There’s no cafe counter on the Piedmont yet. The NCDOT lounge car has vending machines plus free coffee and water, and that’s the whole menu. Pack snacks you know your kids will eat, especially for the full three-hour run, and bring a refillable water bottle for each kid. A free printable activity pack in the snack bag gives small hands a job between vending machine runs.
Amtrak says there are restrooms in each car, which is good news if you’re in the middle of potty training. Changing table locations aren’t posted for these state-owned cars, so carry a portable changing pad.
Three hours is nap-sized. Midday trains, like train 73 out of Raleigh at 10:00 a.m. or train 74 out of Charlotte at 2:20 p.m., can line up nicely with toddler nap time.
A train book for the ride
One of the coziest pages in Rally Takes the Train is the snack page, where Mom hands Rally a pretzel. On the Piedmont that page hits close to home, because the lounge car only has vending machines, so the good snacks are the ones you packed.
Read the book between Kannapolis and Salisbury, then let your kid be the one who hands out snacks, just like Mom. Later, the free Rally activity pack and coloring pages are a fun place to draw the engine name you spotted on the platform.
A snack-sized story for the PiedmontRally Takes the Train is a rhyming, hand-painted watercolor picture book about a corgi’s first train ride. It takes about five minutes to read. Ages 0 to 8, $13.99 on Amazon.
Buy on Amazon
More for train families
- Every Amtrak route with kids: find another train by city or station
- The complete guide to Amtrak with kids: tickets, car seats, changing tables, family tables and what to pack by age
- Free Rally activity pack and coloring pages to print before your trip
- Carolinian with kids
- Palmetto with kids
- Crescent with kids
Sources
- Amtrak: Piedmont route page
- Amtrak: Piedmont timetable
- NC By Train: Kids Under 12 Ride for Half Off Every Day
- NC By Train: Deals
- NC By Train: Schedules
- Wikipedia: Piedmont (train)
- Amtrak: NC State Fair by train
- Wikipedia: North Carolina State Fair station
- Amtrak: Child discounts
- WFMY: special train stops for the State Fair and Lexington Barbecue Festival
- Triangle on the Cheap: 2023 $5 kids fares
Checked against Amtrak and partner railroad pages in October 2026. Schedules and policies change, so confirm on amtrak.com before you ride.
Piedmont with kids: questions parents ask
How much does a kids ticket cost on the Piedmont?
Half. Every Piedmont rider from 2 to 12 is charged half the adult price, provided an adult 18 or over is on the booking, and since the train is all coach, that covers every seat. NC By Train sells identical fares on its own site. If your family will ride often, compare its 15 percent Multi-Ride Pass with the Piedmont and Carolinian Share Fare.
Do babies ride free on the Piedmont?
Yes, one per grown-up: each adult paying full adult fare may carry one baby under 2 on their lap without a ticket. Twins and one parent? The second twin needs a child ticket, as does any baby given a seat of their own. On the full three-hour run that’s a lot of lap time, so a shorter hop like Durham to Raleigh is kinder to your arms.
Can I use a car seat on the Piedmont?
Bring it if a car is waiting for you in Raleigh or Charlotte, but it won’t strap in, since no Amtrak train can secure a car seat. It may go on an empty seat only when no paying rider wants that seat; if not, your under-2 rides on your lap while it’s stowed. There’s no fee, and it takes the place of one bag.
Are there changing tables on the Piedmont?
We couldn’t confirm any. North Carolina owns these coaches and lounge cars, and changing table locations aren’t posted for them. Amtrak doesn’t have an official policy on changing tables either, so treat every car as a maybe. A fold-up changing pad plus the roomier accessible restroom is the plan that works anywhere. Pack a few more diapers than a three-hour ride seems to need.
Does the Piedmont have bathrooms for kids?
Yes. Amtrak says each Piedmont car has a restroom, so you’re never far away in the middle of potty training. Watch for the light that means it’s occupied, and tag along with young kids to help with the door. Warn them the flush makes a big whoosh. The cars sway on curves, so hold a hand on the walk there, especially coming back from the lounge car.
Can I bring a stroller on the Piedmont?
Yes. Folding strollers ride the Piedmont free, swapped in for one of your bags, and if you have a child under 2, an extra infant item, stroller or diaper bag, doesn’t count against your carry-ons at all. Bulky jogging or double strollers might have to go as checked baggage, which Amtrak lists on this route. With rides as short as 20 minutes, a compact fold-up is easiest.
Can I breastfeed or warm a bottle on the Piedmont?
Go ahead and nurse in your seat; breastfeeding in public is legal in every one of the 50 states. Bottles need a plan, though: the Piedmont has no dining car or cafe counter, only vending machines and free coffee and water in the lounge car, so there’s no food crew to help with bottle prep. Bring formula and bottles ready to go for the full ride.
Is there food on the Piedmont train?
Only vending machines for now, in an NCDOT lounge car that also has free coffee and water. North Carolina won a $14 million federal grant in January 2025 to add cafe service, but until it shows up, snacks are your job. Pack what your kids reliably eat, plus a refillable water bottle for each one, especially for the full three-hour run.
How do I keep kids busy on the Piedmont?
Start on the platform: read the engine’s name, like City of Greensboro or Town of Cary, and ask whether this train stops there. Onboard, the coaches are named for North Carolina landmarks and the lounge cars for coastal estuaries, so go hunting for the names. A walk to the lounge car is an outing. For quiet stretches, print the free Rally coloring pages and draw the engine you spotted.
Can we sit together on the Piedmont?
Every seat is reserved coach, so you’re promised a seat on your train but can’t pick which one, and there’s no Business Class for choosing seats. Booking everyone on one reservation is still your best start. Some face backward, and there’s no promise either way. If exact seats matter, the once-a-day Carolinian on the same tracks sells Business Class.
What if we can’t get seats together on the Piedmont?
Grab the closest seats you can, with your youngest beside you, and fix the rest after. Riders step off at Cary, Durham and Greensboro, so two seats in a row may free up at the very next stop. Look in the coach behind yours too. Being an aisle apart is fine for a 30-minute hop like Raleigh to Durham, as long as no small child is on their own.
How do I ask someone to switch seats so our toddler can sit with us on the Piedmont?
Early and short works best. Before they get settled, try: “Would you trade with me so I can sit by my toddler?” Offer something just as good, a window if they have one and a forward seat if they face forward, and accept a no with a smile. Still stuck? Tell the conductor during the ticket check; they can show you empty seats but won’t move a seated rider.
Does the Piedmont have a Quiet Car?
Amtrak’s Piedmont page doesn’t list one, so we can’t point you to a Quiet Car on this train. That doesn’t mean anything goes: shows and games with sound still need headphones on any Amtrak train. If your toddler needs to let off steam, a lap to the lounge car and its vending machines is a better plan than loud play in your seat.
What should I pack for a baby or toddler on the Piedmont?
Think three hours and no cafe. Pack snacks, a full water bottle per kid, diapers and wipes, a portable changing pad, a spare outfit, headphones and a printable train word search. If a big kid wants to bike at the other end, bikes ride in trainside racks with a reservation. Keep the bag light, since a round trip means carrying it all twice.
Can my toddler nap on the Piedmont?
Yes, and the timing is easy to plan, since trains leave each end four times a day. Train 73 out of Raleigh at 10:00 a.m. or train 74 out of Charlotte at 2:20 p.m. can line up with nap time. There are no beds, so it’s a seat or lap nap. Got a light sleeper? Seat them on the left to keep the sun off.
What is the best first ride on the Piedmont for a toddler?
Greensboro to High Point is our pick for a first ride with kids: under 20 minutes on train 73 around 11:35 a.m., with train 74 bringing you back from High Point at 3:35 p.m. Raleigh to Durham is next, about 30 minutes on train 73 at 10:00 a.m., and train 74 leaves Durham at 5:01 p.m. to take you home.
Can kids ride the Piedmont alone?
Not at 12 or younger, under any circumstances. A 13 to 15 year old can, through Amtrak’s unaccompanied minor rules: book through 1-800-USA-RAIL, ride in daylight, start and end at staffed stations, skip any transfers and pay the adult fare. That means a trip starting on the NC Amtrak Connector bus from Winston-Salem wouldn’t qualify. Teens 16 and 17 may ride alone.
How early should we get to the station for the Piedmont?
About 30 minutes before your train is a good rule, and it leaves time to walk the platform and read the engine’s name. Staff at busier stations often board families with small kids ahead of others, so keep within sight of them. Riding from the State Fair platform? The waiting area is usually a tent at Blue Ridge Road and Hillsborough Street.
What if my kid is scared of the Piedmont train?
Talk through the loud parts first. The horn is big, and on some trips the engine pushes from the back while the engineer drives from a cab control car at the far end, which can surprise a kid who expects the engine up front. Practice with Rally’s tunnel spread and our free what-happens-next activity page. If crowds are the worry, skip State Fair dates and try a short hop.
Is the Piedmont safe for young kids?
Yes, with normal train habits. Platform rule: hands held and toes behind the line until the train stops moving and the doors open. Charlotte’s station sits in a working rail yard, so other trains may be moving nearby. Onboard, kids stay seated or grip a seatback, since the cars sway on curves, and you cross between cars together. Keep shoes on, even for a 20-minute hop.
What if the Piedmont is running late?
Before you leave, pull up the Amtrak app, watch your train on the live map and skim the travel advisories. During the State Fair, Amtrak says the number of stops changes by date, so confirm your schedule that week. Keep extra snacks and diapers in the bag, because the lounge car only has vending machines if you end up waiting longer than planned.
How many Piedmont trains run each day, and which ones skip stops?
Four each way, numbered 71 to 78. Trains leave Raleigh at 6:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., about 12:45 p.m. and about 3:15 p.m., and leave Charlotte at 10:25 a.m., 2:20 p.m., 5:05 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Trains 71 and 76 pass Burlington, High Point and Salisbury without stopping, and trains 77 and 78 skip Kannapolis, so check your train number first.