Football season is in swing, and fans of the Carolina Panthers now have enhanced transportation options for game-day travel. NC By Train has updated its schedule to accommodate those heading to Charlotte for the home games, per an announcement made by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Fans have a select number of dates when they can leverage this service to catch the home game action at Bank of America Stadium. The opportunity presents itself on September 21, October 5, October 12, October 26, November 9, November 30, and December 21.
According to the NCDOT's press release, there are two morning trains that aim to get Panthers enthusiasts to Charlotte well before the standard 1 p.m. kickoff. Piedmont train 71 will usher fans through stations including Cary, Durham, Greensboro, and Kannapolis, with an anticipated arrival time in Charlotte of about 9:30 a.m. Alternatively, Piedmont train 73 departs Raleigh Union Station at 8:40 a.m. and, reaches Charlotte right around noon, after making its own set of stops at Cary, Durham, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury, and Kannapolis.
On the return leg, post-game transportation is equally thought out. Fans can board Piedmont train 76 at 5 p.m., which will navigate the route back through Kannapolis, Greensboro, Durham, and Cary, with a planned return to Raleigh just before 8 p.m. There's also a later option with Piedmont train 78, which pulls out of Charlotte at 7:45 p.m.; this train makes stops in Salisbury, High Point, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, and Cary, to finally arrive in Raleigh approximately at 11 p.m.
For those interested in booking their train rides to and from the games, the NCByTrain.org website is the portal to visit. Not only can bookings be made, but additional information about the service and potential discounts are also available there.
