Norfolk Southern Corporation has resumed customer freight rail service in Asheville and western North Carolina for the first time since Hurricane Helene destroyed the rails in September 2024.
NSC opened up its AS line connecting Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina and resumed service after six months of work to repair and restore track infrastructure destroyed by hurricane-related flooding. Engineering teams rebuilt 128 locations totaling more than 13 miles of track between Newport, TN and Asheville. The repairs used more than 160,000 tons of aggregate materials and required crews to clear out more than 2,000 trees. The repairs were privately funded.
“This is a day so many of us, both at Norfolk Southern and beyond, have been looking forward to, and I want to credit all of our NS teammates and our partners that played a role in getting this track back in service so quickly despite unprecedented damage,” Norfolk Southern VP of Engineering Ed Boyle said. “We know firsthand how critical rail service is for local communities, and we’re proud to restore this vital link for businesses and mark this important step in the region’s economic recovery.”
The company said it is committed to rebuilding the 16-mile portion of rail line between Old Fort and Grovestone, NC destroyed by flooding. Until now, the company had been evaluating the line for damage, but the rebuild is expected to be complete this winter.
“Restoring freight rail service to Asheville is a positive step towards getting western North Carolina back on its feet and reconnected economically,” said North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein. “This development will help businesses regain their livelihoods and strengthen our supply chain so that western North Carolina can build back stronger.”