In one of the largest railroad engineering project in the past century, Norfolk Southern raised the height of 28 tunnels in the Appalachian Mountains to open the Heartland Corridor, the fastest, most-direct route for double-stacked freight from the Port of Virginia to Chicago.

When the Heartland Corridor opens Sept. 9, the benefits will begin immediately. Nearly 250 miles will be sliced from current routes, saving up to two days in transit time for shippers. The port immediately can begin promoting a competitive advantage, and localities along the corridor will have greater access to world markets.

NS is celebrating to the completion of this three-year, public-private partnership, finished on schedule, on Sept. 9.  The first double-stacked train to use the Heartland Corridor will go through Cowan Tunnel, located at Radford, Va. The tunnel, which was built in 1916, is the first and longest, at 3,302 feet, of the 28 tunnels in the project. Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman will ride on the first train. Special guests will include Joseph Szabo, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, and Sean Connaughton, Secretary of Transportation for the Commonwealth of Virginia