September 29, 2026 -- North Carolinians who are eager to travel between Raleigh and Charlotte – and points in-between -- now have an easy, cost-effective and car-free way to do so.

The NC By Train Rail & Ride Pass is now available and allows riders to travel with NC By Train between many of the state’s cities while also including a free connection to local transit in participating cities, including GoTriangle’s network of transit options. So, in other words, you could take the train from Charlotte to Raleigh with the Rail & Ride Pass and then take GoTriangle buses – for free – to Durham, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, or any other locations in the network.

“GoTriangle is pleased to be a transit partner for the Rail & Ride Pass, and we can’t wait to see how many people experience the flexibility of inter- and intracity transportation throughout the state,” said GoTriangle Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Katharine Eggleston. “We strive to be the region’s trusted mobility partner, and this partnership allows the chance to showcase that vision to North Carolinians from all over the state.”

The NC Rail & Ride Pass is simple:

• Purchase your NC By Train between Raleigh and Charlotte at org
• To receive your Rail & Ride code by email, enter your trip details at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=3IF2etC5mkSFw-zCbNftGUlwaqCLF7VBr9yUgMF82w5UNUlXQkdDNVRFTjRENUs5V0UxQVNIR1hVWCQlQCN0PWcu
• Use your Rail & Ride Pass with participating transit partners along the corridor, including GoTriangle and GoRaleigh in the Triangle (GoCary, GoDurham, and Chapel Hill Transit public transportation systems are fare free); Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) in Greensboro, Winston-Salem Transit, High Point Transit, and LINK Transit in the Triad; and Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) buses and light rail system. (Please note that Rail & Ride is not available in Kannapolis and Salisbury.)

Note: For GoTriangle and GoRaleigh users, you will need to download the Umo Mobility App, create an account if you don’t currently have one, and redeem the Rail & Ride Pass benefit code to acquire your boarding QR code. You will then “Show Code” when boarding GoTriangle and GoRaleigh buses.

“Rail & Ride is about improving passenger experience and connectivity,” said N.C. Department of Transportation Rail Division Director Jason Orthner. “We’re proud to partner with local transit agencies to give our passengers a smoother, more connected travel experience from start to finish.”