Durham, NC Station (DNC)
Location & Ownership
- Address: 601 West Main Street, Durham, NC 27701-2887
- Facility owned by: West Village Durham II, LLC
- Parking lot owned by: West Village Durham II, LLC
- Platform owned by: North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)
- Track owned by: North Carolina Railroad
Annual Usage (FY 2024)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual ticket revenue | $4,022,363 |
| Annual station ridership | 140,523 |
Routes Served
- Carolinian
- Piedmont
Contact Information
Regional contact: Todd Stennis
Email: governmentaffairsnol@amtrak.com
For fares and schedules: Visit Amtrak (amtrakdeals.com) or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245)
Background & Station History
The current station is housed in the restored Walker Warehouse—a brick structure built in 1897 by the American Tobacco Company trust and located in the Bright Leaf National Register Historic District.
In 2009 (July 8) Amtrak service began at this facility, following a partnership between NCDOT and the city of Durham. The warehouse is part of the West Village redevelopment, which converted former tobacco warehouses (constructed between 1884 and 1949) into apartments, labs, offices, retail and entertainment space.
Earlier, an interim modular station was opened in 1996 to provide accessible ticketing, waiting space, baggage handling and restrooms. That station had replaced a small shelter used since 1990.
In April 2024, Amtrak completed a $1.5 million improvement project at the station. Upgrades included:
- New automatic entry/exits doors
- Upgraded restrooms
- New fire-alarm system
- Installation of cane-detection rail at the bottom of the ticket counter (for cane users)
- Improved accessible pathways from the parking lot to station and platform
- New signage in the parking/drop-off area and on the platform
Station Features
Station Building (with waiting room):
- ATM: Not available
- Elevator: Not available
- Payphones: Available
- Quik-Trak kiosks: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Ticket sales office: Available
- Unaccompanied child travel allowed
- Vending machines: Available
- WiFi: Not available
- Recommended arrival time: If checking baggage or needing assistance, arrive at least 60 minutes before departure; if not, arrive at least 30 minutes before.
Baggage Services:
- Amtrak Express shipping: Not available
- Checked baggage service: Not available
- Checked baggage storage: Available
- Bike boxes for sale: Yes
- Baggage carts: Available
- Ski bags: Not available
- Bag storage: Available
- Shipping boxes for sale: Yes
- Baggage assistance: Provided by station staff
Parking:
- Same-day parking: Available (fees may apply)
- Overnight parking: Available (fees may apply)
- Accessible parking spaces: Available
Accessibility Features:
- Accessible platform
- Accessible restrooms
- Accessible ticket office
- Accessible waiting room
- Accessible water fountain
- Accessible parking (same-day and overnight; fees may apply)
- No high-level platform
- Wheelchair available
- Wheelchair lift available
Station Hours
| Service | Hours |
|---|---|
| Waiting Room | Mon–Sun 06:15 am – 10:00 pm |
| Ticket Office | Mon–Sun 06:15 am – 10:00 pm |
| Passenger Assistance | Mon–Sun 06:15 am – 10:00 pm |
| Checked Baggage Service | Mon–Sun 06:15 am – 10:00 pm |
| Parking Hours | No parking at this location (see note: earlier indicates parking available; please verify locally) |
| Quik-Trak Kiosk | Mon–Sun 06:15 am – 10:00 pm |
| Lounge | Not available |
| Amtrak Express | Closed (Mon–Sun) |
Why This Station Matters
- The station building is a historically significant landmark, representing the region’s tobacco-industry past and industrial architecture from the late 19th century.
- The redevelopment into a modern rail station within a historic structure is a successful example of adaptive reuse.
- The 2024 upgrades demonstrate a commitment to accessibility and passenger comfort, helping ensure that the station meets modern standards.
- Serving both the Piedmont and Carolinian routes, the station is a key link in the regional rail network in North Carolina.
