Norfolk Southern says it expects to reopen its freight railroad line between Asheville and Tennessee by the end of March, six months after tracks and bridges were damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
The reopening is an important step in the recovery of the Western North Carolina economy. While most goods move in and out of the region by truck, trains are critical for shipping bulk materials such as malt, grain, stone and chemicals, says Ashley Swanger, director of industrial services for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s not a huge number of businesses or industries that are impacted,” Swanger said. “But for the ones who depend on it, they really depend on it. There really isn’t a good alternative if you need to move products in bulk or that size.”…