Norfolk Southern Repairs Signal Renewed Hope for Passenger Rail

Norfolk Southern's railway repairs near Old Fort signal renewed hope for passenger rail service between Salisbury and Asheville.

OLD FORT—More hope is coming to western North Carolina, and it's riding on rails that are finally being repaired following catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene.

Norfolk Southern is making significant progress on repairs from Newport, Tennessee, through Asheville to Black Mountain, with that section set to reopen at the end of March, according to a report from Chrissy Murphy at The McDowell News.

While the tracks in Old Fort remain visibly damaged, we’re witnessing promising signs that repairs there may begin soon. Marion Mayor Steve Little said tracks in Old Fort remain upended, with some twisted above the ground, several feet from the original path.

At a recent Western North Carolina Rail Committee meeting, NCDOT Rail Division Director Jason Orthner confirmed that Norfolk Southern has told the North Carolina Department of Transportation that it will be restoring the line through Old Fort.

Even more encouraging, “a member of the committee received an email during the meeting from someone looking for lodging for people who would be working on the Old Fort line for nine months, seven days a week, from daylight to dusk.”

A clear sign that this critical mountain passage isn't being abandoned.

Orthner emphasized that these repairs are crucial for moving freight from central North Carolina to western North Carolina and beyond, adding that the department is "really excited to see western North Carolina come back. We want to see the dozens and dozens of customers that are existing that have been waiting for rail service get their service back in place, and the opportunity for future services.”

This isn't just about freight—it's about our passenger rail dreams becoming reality.

Remember in the Summer of 2024 when State Senator Warren Daniel told us passenger rail could return to western North Carolina within five to seven years?

Hurricane Helene may have only temporarily deflated our hopes for passenger rail restoration, specifically the Asheville-to-Salisbury line. As Mayor Little put it, after the hurricane, "It was sort of like their balloon got punctured, … a little teeny leak. People weren't quite as excited because you're afraid to get too excited if you think that it might not happen."

But that balloon is reinflating with each positive development. Little shared that the recent updates are "the best news I've heard since the hurricane brought such destruction to our area."

The momentum for our Salisbury to Asheville corridor continues to build. According to the article, "NCDOT expects to present the scope of the project to the federal administration this spring, followed by the budget in the summer. The scope and budget could be approved by the fall."

Even better, U.S. Rep. Tim Moore continues to voice strong support for passenger rail, stating: "Western North Carolina has lacked passenger rail service for decades, limiting travel options and economic opportunities for our communities. Expanding rail access would provide a reliable transportation alternative, boost tourism, and better connect our region to the rest of the state."

Mayor Little summarized the renewed optimism perfectly: "That puts us back where we were Sept. 26, 2024, when everything was full speed ahead of working toward satisfying various requirements of the rail corridor system. Getting the money raised and all of the municipalities mobilized and excited, all the way from Asheville to Salisbury."

Imagine stepping aboard at the historic Morganton depot, settling in with a coffee (or perhaps a pint of our signature Waiting for the Train brew from Sidetracked Brewery), or departing from Asheville’s new train station and arriving in Raleigh without fighting any I-40 traffic.

That future isn't just a daydream—it's the destination our communities are moving toward together.

The proposed line, as noted in the article, "could include stops in Statesville, Hickory, Valdese, Morganton, Marion, and Old Fort" before reaching Asheville—reconnecting communities that haven't had passenger service since the 1970s.

This isn't just Morganton's dream—it's western North Carolina's future.

Every repaired section of track brings us one whistle closer to the day when we can ride the rails together.

Have you reached out to your representatives lately to voice your support? Now's the perfect time to let them know that western North Carolina is ready to get back on track with public transportation!

Waiting for the Train is a grassroots coalition dedicated to bringing passenger rail service back to western North Carolina. Join our movement by signing our petition, attending our events, or contacting your local representatives.