Storm Helene Impacts on Infrastructure: CSX, Norfolk Southern (UPDATED 10/3)
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
CSX network map
Courtesy of CSX
ATLANTA - Class Is CSX and Norfolk Southern give service bulletin updates on the status of rail infrastructure throughout the southeast after Hurricane Helene made landfall.
CSX
Rain and wind damage caused flooding, downed trees, and power outages, according to the latest bulletin from CSX. Throughout the last weekend of September 27th to 29th, crews worked to clear the network and make repairs. Delays remain.
*UPDATE: OCTOBER 3, 2024*
The Florida, Georgia, Midwest, and Southern Zones are now fully operational. Updates in Bold below.
For the Carolinas, CSX says its Charleston Subdivision is clear, but its Blue Ridge Subdivision experienced flooding and bridge damage. The section between Spartanburg, SC to Marion, SC should be cleared as of reporting, but there is still a long-term outage in other areas in this territory. The McCormick, Monroe, Andrews, Augusta, Georgia Road, Hamlet, and Columbia regions are also still dealing with clearing debris and issues with power.
As of October 3rd, the Augusta Subdivision has been restored with an opened route from Augusta to Waycross. The Columbia Subdivision has opened a route from Columbia to Savannah. In the Monroe Subdivision, a route has opened from Hamlet to Atlanta. The Easter Subdivision has opened a route from Columbia to Sumter Yard.
The Charlotte Subdivision will be reopening a route from Monroe to Charlotte to Bostic. The CN and L Subdivision will reopen a route from Laurens to Columbia. The McCormick, Georgia Road (SW), Spartanburg, and Belton Subdivision are still closed as of October 2nd due to outages. CSX has said the estimated restoration timeframe is Thursday to Friday evening. The Blue Ridge Subdivision still has damage, “with two bridges washed out and no time for reopening.”
In Florida, CSX reports all of its areas have reopened save for the Clearwater and Brooksville Subdivisions.
In Georgia, Thomasville Subdivision is clear of trees, but there is no power for grade crossing protection and signals. CSX says there is no timeline for restoration as of yet. Brunswick Subdivision north of Nahunta and the segment between Waycross and Jesup are not operational, but all other areas are as of yesterday evening, the 29th.
In its Southern Zone, Big Sandy and Kanawha are clear. However, there are downed trees in the Logan and Coal River areas. All areas are fully operational in the Midwest Zone.
CSX encourages its customers to check back for service bulletins and customer advisories.
Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern‘s Engineering team has been working on clearing “thousands of downed trees across the Southeast portion.” This includes the Southern Appalachians. Additionally, Norfolk Southern says it has been working with power companies to addressed downed power lines that impact its operations.
On September 26th, Norfolk Southern it has made progress on various routes throughout the southeast. For the list of major routes that are in service, these include:
- “Chattanooga, TN to Jacksonville, FL via Atlanta, GA
- “Birmingham, AL to Charlotte, NC via Atlanta, GA
- “Birmingham, AL to Roanoke, VA via Chattanooga and Knoxville, TN
- “Macon, GA to Savannah, GA”
For the routes that are out of service due to the storm, these include:
- “Macon to Brunswick: ~70 miles of trees to remove
- “Asheville: routes east and west of Asheville due to historic flooding
- “Bluefield, WV to Norton, VA: account downed power line, current estimate for line to be removed is 10/01
- “Augusta, GA to Millen, GA: out of service due to downed power lines (3)
- “Augusta, GA to Columbia, SC: out of service due to downed power lines (2)”
