Feeling Those Lack-of-Infrastructure Blues
Since studying abroad in Europe this past spring and enjoying consistent passenger rail access, Burke County native Mary Margaret Collett has become a passionate advocate for restoring train service to western North Carolina.
In other parts of the world, you can access passenger trains whether you live in an energetic urban center or a quiet village.
That’s simply not the case for western North Carolinians. And most of North America, for that matter.
Some people only get their first taste of travel by train while visiting more historical metropolitan areas like Washington D.C., New York City, or Chicago—places that have held onto their more-than-a-century-old rail services. Then, of course, these cities have also built additional transportation options with more modern light rail systems such as the Metro, the Subway, and the L Train, respectively.
And, like many in Burke County, Mary Margaret Collett didn’t experience the pleasures of passenger rail until she visited Europe, a continent admired for its reliable train service and picturesque routes.
“My interest in trains began when I traveled to France and Switzerland with my family a few years ago and had my first train experience,” recalls the Morganton native. “It was such a relaxing experience, and I felt a little sad coming back to the States because of our lack of infrastructure.”
Traveling by train isn’t only a more eco-friendly option, but eliminates many of the stressors associated with automotive transportation. Collett encountered this while studying abroad in Prague this past spring.
“I traveled to bordering countries using the trains, and it was fantastic,” she says. “Toward the end of my stay, I did some solo travel. One of my favorite experiences was taking the train from Edinburgh to St. Andrews, Scotland. The ease of accessibility from my hotel to the train station and the city center made my solo travel much more comfortable and easy to navigate.”
When asked why she believes passenger rail is so important for western North Carolina, she focuses on the added convenience and economic benefits it would bring.
“Passenger rail is important for our community because it provides efficient transportation for individuals who otherwise may not have access,” she continues. “It can also help the local economy with potential tourism and create job opportunities.”
When that train finally comes rolling through Morganton, which is likely to be within the next five to seven years, she already knows where she hopes to go.
“If a line was established from Salisbury to Asheville, I would look forward to spending a day in Asheville without worrying about parking. It would be a great next step in having better public transportation throughout the state.”
Mary Margaret Collett calls Morganton home and eagerly awaits the revival of the Asheville-to-Salisbury rail line.