From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE — The continuing work to restore service on Norfolk Southern’s line into Asheville reached a milestone on April 8, as an NS ballast train became the first train to reach Asheville since it was closed Sept. 27 by Tropical Storm Helene.

More than 21,500 feet of track was washed out, and another 65,000 feet was damaged by scour, fill failure, or slides, on the former Southern Railway AS Line between Salisbury, N.C., and Morristown, Tenn

The railroad had originally hoped service could be restored by January, but most recently had estimated it could reopen last month.

To that end, NS stated recently, “Last September, Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage and devastation across several states in the Southeast, with particularly severe flooding in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Even before the storm hit, hundreds or railroaders were preparing to deal with the expected damage to ensure that we could safely restore service and help our network recover.

“Due to the remote nature and mountain topography of the region, coupled with the conditions following the storm and subsequent flooding, our teams had difficulty assessing damage along portions of the line around Asheville and over Black Mountain, where much track had been completely destroyed. Our initial projections estimated the line between Asheville and Newport would not reopen for months.

“Asheville is an important part of our network that experienced the brunt of Hurricane Helene,” NS Chief Operating Officer John Orr said. “As soon as the storm had passed, I joined our team on site to make sure that our railroaders were safe and taken care of, and to see firsthand what we needed to do to stabilize and restore the railroad. It’s what railroaders do. We’re in it for the long haul...

“Yesterday was a momentous day, as non-revenue Train 98A rolled through the River Arts District, which was completely underwater during the storm.

“This couldn’t have happened without the dedication of our railroaders who have taken great pride in restoring service to Asheville,” Orr added. “Their hard work and commitment were not only vital to our recovery, but also to this community that many of them call home.”

“While recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene are ongoing, yesterday’s movement of equipment highlights the capabilities and unwavering commitment of our railroaders. We truly appreciate everything they do,” Orr said.