For the first time since Hurricane Helene devastated the Asheville area in September 2024, freight rail service has resumed for Local businesses, marking a significant milestone in the region’s recovery and economic growth.
Norfolk Southern Corp. has resumed customer freight rail service between Asheville, N.C. and points west along its AS Line, which connects Eastern Tennessee to Western North Carolina. The return to service is the result of six months of diligent work by the Thoroughbred team to repair and restore track infrastructure that, in some locations, was completely destroyed by hurricane-related flooding.
“Restoring freight rail service to Asheville is a positive step towards getting western North Carolina back on its feet and reconnected economically,” North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said in a release. “This development will help businesses regain their livelihoods and strengthen our supply chain so that western North Carolina can build back stronger.”
In total, engineering teams rebuilt 128 locations, totaling more than 13 miles of track between Newport, Tennessee, and Asheville, and utilized over 160,000 tons of aggregate materials, clearing more than 2,000 trees. The restoration work, which has been privately funded, reflects Norfolk Southern’s commitment to the region’s economic recovery.
Additionally, the company is committing to rebuilding the portion of the line that connects Old Fort to Grovestone, including the historic Old Fort Loops. The hurricane and the resulting floods severely damaged the 16 miles of railroad. 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.
“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 Engineering Ed Boyle said in a release. “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 restoration of service follows the replacement of the Pigeon River rail bridge in Newport in March. The bridge was destroyed after significant flooding in the wake of the hurricane, necessitating a rapid replacement to reestablish a link on the line.
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