We thoroughly endorse the proposal now under consideration to use federal funding to return passenger rail service to Asheville — from the Amtrak hub in Salisbury (located between Charlotte and Greensboro).

Indeed, “It’s been years in the making and now some state leaders, including NCDOT, are cautiously optimistic (that) Asheville, in the fall of 2023, could get approved for major federal funding for an estimated $665 million passenger train project,” according to an Aug. 9 report on Asheville television station WLOS (News 13).

“The 139-mile route would connect Asheville to Salisbury and Amtrak lines across the U.S.”

However, as News 13 reported, “‘It is a competitive process,’” quoting Jason Orthner, NCDOT railroad division director.

Also in its story on possible passenger rail service for Asheville, the TV station added the following:

“The state’s railroad division recently published a 38-page draft feasibility study tied to the federal grant application. The project, if approved, would have 80 percent covered by federal funds and 20 percent by local and state funds.

“‘The fact that our state DOT is finally on board with it is huge,’ said Democratic State Senator Julie Mayfield. The program developed under the Biden administration is the first time in decades that the federal government has set aside millions for rail line expansions.

“‘The route being looked at is an existing freight route,’ said Orthner. He estimated it would take seven to 10 years before the rail line was complete.

“While state leadership at NCDOT support the proposal, Republican U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) issued a lukewarm endorsement of any future rail line to Asheville.

“‘While I can certainly support the request for a feasibility study, I am skeptical that the results would prove worthy of a new passenger rail from Asheville to Salisbury,’ Edwards emailed News 13. ‘I’m open to further discussion with local NCDOT leaders regarding how this would impact our communities.”’

While we agree with Edwards there are downsides to every project, we think that the connectivity and convenience of passenger rail service to Asheville would be a step forward for all of Western North Carolina.