With recovery work now underway, Norfolk Southern is adjusting the projected reopening timeline for the company’s AS Line, which travels through Western North Carolina and into Tennessee, regions heavily impacted by September’s Hurricane Helene.

The section of track running east from Newport, Tenn. through Asheville, to Grovestone, N.C. is now projected to reopen March 31, 2025. The portion of the line that runs between Grovestone and Old Fort remains under assessment.

After Hurricane Helene moved through the Southeast in late September, bringing with it historic flooding and unprecedented damage, hundreds of railroaders from Norfolk Southern jumped into action. Teams reopened all core routes affected by the storm within 72 hours of landfall, clearing over 15,000 trees, deploying 400+ generators, and repairing multiple washouts, often in very challenging conditions and difficult-to-reach regions.

The restoration of service in and out of Asheville will mark a major milestone in the region’s recovery. In addition to providing rail service for numerous businesses in the area, the AS Line also serves as a critical connection for The Blue Ridge Southern Railroad, a local short line railroad that serves businesses in the Hendersonville and Waynesville areas.

“There is no doubt the important role this line plays in supporting the people and businesses that call Western North Carolina home,” said Norfolk Southern VP Engineering Ed Boyle. “We know how many community members are waiting for the line to reopen, and our teams have been working tirelessly since Sept. 27 to restore the service needed to help rebuild the local economy.”

In addition to working to expedite track restoration work, the company is also pursuing additional transload facilities in the region, offering customers efficient, reliable shipping solutions while construction continues.

“We know how critical having that rail connection is to so many of the industries that operate in this region, and we cannot thank our customers enough for their continued patience and support as we work to restore service,” said Norfolk Southern Vice President Business Development and First and Final Mile Markets Stefan Loeb.

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