Transportation in East Tennessee faces months of disruption as the Norfolk Southern railway network is expected to remain closed following extensive flood damage incurred from Hurricane Helene. The AS Line, a crucial track that connects East Tennessee with Asheville, North Carolina, and passes through the Blue Ridge Mountains, sustained severe damage with more than 21,500 feet of track washed away, more than 50,000 feet damaged by scour, over 15,000 feet of fill failures and slides, and multiple bridges compromised, according to WVLT.
Following Helene's landfall, operations teams from Norfolk Southern reportedly cleared over 15,000 trees and repaired numerous washouts and slide fences, aiding the swift reopening of core routes within a remarkable 72-hour timeframe, despite the considerable logistical challenges posed by the region's remote areas and difficult mountain terrain where teams were hampered in their efforts to assess the damage around Asheville and over Black Mountain, where some tracks were utterly destroyed. “We know firsthand at Norfolk Southern the critical role rail plays in connecting communities, and we continue to support ongoing recovery efforts,” said Ed Boyle, Vice President of Engineering at Norfolk Southern, as per WATE.
Recent progress includes the reopening of the line between Salisbury and Old Fort in North Carolina and between Newport and Morristown. Though this signifies a milestone in restoration, the work is far from finished; the tracks between Asheville and Newport are predicted to be back in operation by late January 2025, with assessment and repairs, however, the route between Asheville and Old Fort still undergoing evaluation, according to Norfolk Southern.
