ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The continuing work to restore service on Norfolk Southern’s line into Asheville reached a milestone on Tuesday (April 8) as an NS ballast train became the first train to reach Asheville since it was closed Sept. 27, 2024, by Hurricane 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. [see “Norfolk Southern line into Asheville, N.C., to be closed …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 10, 2024]. The railroad had originally hoped service could be restored by January, but most recently had estimated it could reopen last month [see “Norfolk Southern line … to be closed until March 2025,” News Wire, Dec. 17, 2024]. News Wire has asked NS for an update on the reconstruction process.
