"It was my first time ever being on the train," Stephen Bateman said.
Bateman came from Louisiana to get the full U.S Open experience starting with what he and his friend said was a convenient and cost-efficient way to get to Pinehurst.
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"We didn't want to rent a car," Tim Tran said.
The morning train departed Raleigh Union Station at 7 a.m. on Thursday and came back around 9:30 p.m. after making a stop in Cary.
WATCH | 'Open Express' train will run all weekend from Raleigh to Pinehurst
'Open Express' train will run all weekend from Raleigh to Pinehurst
The experience comes as trains are becoming more popular in North Carolina, according to the NCDOT which says train ridership is at an all-time high.
GoTriangle, who completed a feasibility study for a commuter rail line between Durham and Garner in 2023, said there's still interest in keeping the idea on the table as the region continues to grow.
"We're very confident that the rail project will resurface again," a GoTriangle spokesperson said.