This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
5/21/2025
For the first time since Hurricane Helene devastated the region in September 2024, Norfolk Southern Railway has resumed freight-rail service to customers between Asheville, North Carolina, and points west, the Class I announced yesterday.
NS teams worked for six months to repair and restore track infrastructure that was, in some locations, destroyed by hurricane-related flooding. In total, engineering teams rebuilt 128 locations totaling over 13 miles of track on the AS Line between Newport, Tennessee, and Asheville, NS officials said in a press release.
To complete the work, the teams used over 160,000 tons of aggregate materials and cleared over 2,000 trees. Additionally, the railroad has committed to building the portion of the line that connects Old Fort to Grovestone, including the historic Old Fort Loops. The 16 miles of railroad was severely damaged by the hurricane and resulting floods. Until now, the company had been conducting an extended evaluation of line damage for restoration.
The line rebuild is expected to be completed this winter. The restoration of service follows the replacement of the Pigeon River rail bridge in Newport, Tennessee, in March. Significant flooding in the wake of the hurricane destroyed the bridge, which was a critical link on the rail line.
“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," said Ed Boyle, vice president of engineering for NS.