Raleigh to Wilmington, DE train

Trains from Raleigh to Wilmington

Raleigh, North Carolina, is approximately 128.6 miles (207 km) away from the lovely City of Wilmington. The number of passengers traveling from Raleigh to Wilmington is normally quite high. Thus, there are two daily trains that travel this route, the Amtrak Silver Meteor 92 and the Amtrak 80 Carolinian. The fastest train between these two is the Amtrak Silver Meteor 92, while the cheapest between the two is the Amtrak 80 Carolinian. This being the case, if you’d like to reach Wilmington as quickly as you can, you should consider boarding the Amtrak Silver Meteor 92, while if you’d like to travel to Wilmington without spending a fortune on a ticket, the Amtrak 80 Carolinian is the right one for you.

Raleigh to Wilmington Train Time: Daily Departures

Two trains, the Amtrak Silver Meteor 92 and the Amtrak 80 Carolinian, normally depart from Raleigh to Wilmington every day. The Amtrak Silver Meteor 92 is usually the first to depart from the Raleigh Union Station at around 8:45 a.m. The Amtrak 80 Carolinian, on the other hand, normally departs from the same station at around 10:13 a.m. It’s worth noting that the train you choose should be one whose time of departure is convenient for you. With this in mind, if you’re an early riser and you stay close to the Raleigh Union Station, the Amtrak Silver Meteor 92 would be a great choice. However, if you’re not such an early riser and you stay a bit far away from the station, the Amtrak 80 Carolinian would be the best choice.

How long is the journey by train from Raleigh to Wilmington?

It’s essential to note that the duration of your journey depends on the train you board. If you board the Amtrak Silver Meteor 92, you should expect to be in Wilmington by around 4:51 p.m., as this train takes approximately 8h 6min to cover the distance between these two cities. If you decide to board the Amtrak 80 Carolinian, you should expect to reach your destination at about 6:36 p.m., given that this train takes roughly 8h 23min to travel from Raleigh to Wilmington.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Raleigh to Wilmington?

Departure train station: Raleigh Union Station, both the Amtrak Silver Meteor 92 and the Amtrak 80 Carolinian depart from Raleigh to Wilmington from Raleigh Union Station. Opened in 2018, this remarkable station is located a mere 0.9 miles (1.44 km) away from the heart of the city. This being the case, if you board one of the many buses in the city center headed to the station, you’ll get there in less than 5min. While waiting for your train to depart from this station, you’ll enjoy access to amenities such as clean restrooms, spacious waiting areas, and secure parking spots.

Arrival train station: In Wilmington, your train will stop at the prestigious Wilmington Station. Also known as the Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Railroad Station, this wonderful station is located 0.7 miles (1.13 km) away from the Wilmington city center. Thus, if you board a public bus from this station to the city center, you should expect to reach the station in no more than 5min. At this station, you’ll have access to comfy seats, a number of coffee shops and restaurants, and clean shared toilets. Given that this train station is known for having friendly staff, while here, you can rest assured of getting all the assistance you need.

Raleigh Street People. Source: Shutterstock

Which train companies travel from Raleigh to Wilmington?

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation commonly referred to as Amtrak, is the only train company that offers trains that travel from Raleigh to Wilmington. Currently, the company has two trains plying this route, the Amtrak 80 Carolinian and the Amtrak Silver Meteor 92. Given that both trains have no changes, onboard one, you can rest assured of not experiencing any layovers while on your journey.

Amtrak trains from Raleigh to Wilmington

The Amtrak 80 Carolinian and the Amtrak Silver Meteor 92 train both travel from Raleigh to Wilmington. Over the years, the Amtrak 80 Carolinian train has gained massive popularity because since it began its daily operations, the train has remained consistent. If you select the Amtrak 80 Carolinian as your preferred train from Raleigh to Wilmington, you can count on having a relaxing journey as this train boasts large windows, a wide selection of café meals, and well-maintained toilets.

As this train’s tickets are rather cheap, it’s safe to say that on this train, you’ll get value for your money. Contrarily, the Amtrak Silver Meteor 92 is renowned for being the fastest train that travels between the two cities. If you choose this train as your Raleigh to Wilmington train of choice, you can expect to have a fantastic ride, as this train prides itself in having superb private rooms, well-trained train professionals, well-ventilated coaches, and adequately spacious seating areas.

Train Raleigh to Wilmington: Services On Board

The Amtrak 80 Carolinian train is ranked by many individuals as one of the best trains in the country. The train, which has coach class seats and business class seats, allows passengers to bring their bicycles as well as pets no more than 20 pounds on board. Onboard this train, you’ll enjoy free and fast Wi-Fi. The Amtrak Silver Meteor 92 is also highly ranked by many individuals. This train, which has roomettes, accessible bedrooms, private suites, coach class seats, and business class seats, also allows for passengers to travel with their cats and dogs. In line with Amtrak’s aim of being accessible to all, both these trains traveling from Raleigh to Wilmington are well designed to cater to disabled individuals.

How to find cheap train tickets from Raleigh to Wilmington

If you’d like to travel from Raleigh to Wilmington cheaply, you should consider traveling during the low travel season. This is because, during low travel seasons, train tickets are usually lower than during peak travel season. During the high travel season train tickets usually go up as the date of the train departure nears. Given that this is the case, if the date you plan on traveling is in the peak season, you should consider booking your ticket way in advance. Another way you can travel from Raleigh to Wilmington cheaply is by booking connecting trains, as connecting trains’ tickets are normally cheaper than those for direct trains.

Wilmington Street. Source: Shutterstock

To Wilmington by train-Travel Tips

Wilmington is a superb city. Annually, thousands of tourists flock to this city primarily because it has plenty of kid-friendly sites, amazing outdoor destinations, museums, and cultural points of interest. Battleship North Carolina is one of the top attractions in the city. Completed in April 1941, this mammoth ship is worth visiting if you enjoy war stories and navy history. Cape Fear Museum of History and Museum, located at 814 Market Street, is another of the top attractions in Wilmington. Established in 1898, this old museum is worth paying a visit as it prides itself on having several extremely informative exhibits.

While in Wilmington, you should consider visiting the Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront. A seafood restaurant, this fabulous establishment boasts several superb customer reviews, as it usually offers its customers a wide selection of well-prepared dishes. If you choose to eat at this restaurant, you’ll enjoy every bite of your food.