ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A Norfolk Southern rail line that runs through Asheville is expected to be out for at least three months while crews work on recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene.
The railroad company said the impacted track runs from Morristown, Tennessee, to Salisbury, North Carolina. Service was restored to some of the track as of Tuesday — between Morristown and Newport, as well as Old Fort and Salisbury.
However, parts of the railroad closer to Asheville continue to need work. Crews were trying to restore service from Newport to Asheville on Tuesday, with service anticipated to be restored by Jan. 31, 2025. However, the company was also evaluating the extent of the damage between Asheville and Old Fort.
"After Hurricane Helene swept through the southeast in late September, bringing with it historic flooding, unprecedented damage, and unanticipated topography changes to parts of the region, hundreds of railroaders from Norfolk Southern got to work," the company said in a release.
Damage assessments revealed around 21,500 feet of track was washed out between Salisbury and Morristown, and more than 50,000 feet of track was damaged by scour. Multiple bridges were also damaged.
"Due to the remote nature and mountain topography of the region, coupled with the conditions following the storm and subsequent flooding, Norfolk Southern teams have had difficulty assessing damage along portions of the line around Asheville and over Black Mountain, where much track has been completely destroyed," the release said.
CSX, another railroad company, said some delays remained after Hurricane Helene impacted upper East Tennessee. It also said its line from Spruce Pine to Erwin saw "extensive damage," and it could not provide an estimated reopening time for that area.
However, it was able to mostly restore service in the days following the storm. As of Tuesday, it said its "Florida, Georgia, Midwest, and Southern Zones" were fully operational.