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asheville.com community news
Historic Biltmore Village to Get New Train Station Behind the Old Depot.

Historic Biltmore Village, located at the entrance to the famed Biltmore Estate, will be getting a new train station to handle the proposed new passenger train service. New pedestrian walkway improvements are also being installed to improve pedestrian traffic.

The passenger train station task force recently voted unanimously to select the Biltmore Station property that is located behind the former train depot. The former train depot was not a finalist in the selection of the Asheville passenger train terminal because of the lease the current occupant holds on the property and due to the rail traffic conflicts that would be created if the former train depot were used again as a rail passenger station.

As the train schedules are currently proposed, the passenger trains will not be utilizing the set of railroad tracks that are adjancent to the old train depot. The railroad tracks that are adjacent to the old train depot are currently being used by frieght trains, and this set of tracks is tied in with the freight railyard. The passenger trains will be using the second set of railroad tracks that are located on the north side of the tracks that are being used by the freight trains.

If the old train depot were used again for passenger service, a problem would arise if a freight train arrived at the same time as a passenger train. The passengers' access to the old train depot would be blocked by the freight train if a passenger and freight train arrived at the same time.

The new passenger rail station will be located behind the old rail station on the opposite side of the railroad tracks near Interiors Marketplace and Trevi's Restaurant. The task force decided on the location due to its close proximity to the center of Biltmore Village and the lack of rail traffic conflict with the current rail freight traffic.

WNC has been seeking the restoration of passenger rail service since it was discontinued in the 1970s due to diminishing rail passenger traffic. Surveys have indicated a renewed interest in passenger rail service as an alternative to automotive and air transportation.

DOT officials plan to present reports for Asheville and the other nine North Carolina cities requesting passenger train service to the North Carolina General Assembly this spring. The other cities include Statesville, Salisbury, Hickory, Valdese, Marion, Old Fort and Black Mountain.

The traffic calming measures that are being installed in Biltmore Village are curb extensions and median treatments. According to Michael Moule, traffic engineer for the City of Asheville, "The median treatments are located in the middle of wide streets to give pedestrians an area of refuge while crossing the street. The mediums also tend to reduce the speed of traffic traveling by the mediums, and seem to remind drivers to yield to pedestrians who are crossing the street."

Moule also says the mediums will be receiving some landscaping improvements to increase their esthetics.

The Historic Biltmore Village is considered a must-shopping destination for visiting tourists and shoppers.