Raleigh is the second-largest city in North Carolina and is sometimes called the “City of Oaks” due to its large number of oak trees. It was originally named after the famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh. The city is home to one of the largest science parks in the world. The Research Triangle Park (RTP) is home to many of the world’s hi-tech research and development centres. It is often compared to Silicon Valley and currently houses the research and development headquarters of both IBM and GlaxoSmithKline.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport currently offers more than 45 domestic and international flights and is the second largest airport in North Carolina. The central train station in Raleigh is extremely busy and offers daily serviced to New York City, Miami and Charlotte. The public transport system is currently under review with a proposal recently submitted for new high-speed rail, light rail, and commuter rail lines to and from the City's core.
