NCDOT’s Rail Division Invests $16.3MM

​The continuous welded rail project aA continuous welded rail project on the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway will upgrade 30 miles of track between Charlotte and Oakboro, enhancing freight service for businesses such as Charlotte Pipe & Foundry’s new $460 million facility. ​​​​​

Image and caption courtesy of NCDOT

RALEIGH, N.C. - The North Carolina Department of Transportation's Rail Division announced a $16.3 million investment into its rail infrastructure.

According to the NCDOT, the investment goes toward 12 short line railroads and the Port of Morehead City. Funded via the Freight Rail & Rail Crossing Safety Improvement Program (FRRCSI), the program was started in 2014 to support the safety and performance of the rail infrastructure across the state. The grants provided match investments from railroads and the N.C. Ports Authority. These total $41.5 million.

“These projects deliver significant benefits to North Carolina’s freight rail network,” said Jason Orthner, director of NCDOT’s Rail Division. “By working closely with our railroad partners, we are strengthening reliability and resiliency, supporting businesses across the state, and reinforcing the rail infrastructure that drives North Carolina’s economy.”

“These projects deliver significant benefits to North Carolina’s freight rail network,” said Jason Orthner, director of NCDOT’s Rail Division. “By working closely with our railroad partners, we are strengthening reliability and resiliency, supporting businesses across the state, and reinforcing the rail infrastructure that drives North Carolina’s economy.”

Over 95 miles of railroad track and eight bridges and culverts in North Carolina will receive upgrades and other improvements through these investments. The list below details these improvements, courtesy of the NCDOT.

• “Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway: $4,845,392 in funding for rail replacement and improvements along the ACWR Piedmont Division. (Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties).
• “Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad: $771,397 for track upgrades and continuity of service on the AR Mainline (Hoke County).
• “Alexander Railroad Company: $381,797 for track and corridor upgrades near the Alexander Industrial Park (Alexander County).
• “Alexander Railroad Company: $495,026 for track and grade-crossing upgrades on the mainline rail corridor (Iredell County).
• “Atlantic & Western Railway: $690,440 for corridor improvements and rail track upgrades on the Jonesboro branch (Lee County).
• “Chesapeake & Albemarle Railroad: $712,801 for bridge and track improvements along the mainline corridor and Edenton siding (Camden, Pasquotank, Perquimans, and Chowan counties).
• “Carolina Coastal Railway: $1,230,000 for rail and bridge improvements along the Belhaven and NS lines (Beaufort, Greene, Washington, and Wilson counties).
• “Great Smoky Mountains Railroad: $1,680,614 for track improvements and bridge repairs along the mainline corridor (Jackson, Swain, Macon, and Cherokee counties).
• “North Carolina Ports (Morehead City): $177,500 for rail scale installation at the Port of Morehead City (Carteret County).
• “North Carolina Ports (Morehead City): $844,860 for rail replacement and upgrades within the Port of Morehead City (Carteret County).
• “North Carolina and Virginia Railroad: $979,813 for rail replacement and improvements along the mainline corridor (Northampton County).
• “Raleigh & Fayetteville Railroad: $999,586 for rail corridor improvements to the NS and VF lines (Wake and Harnett counties).
• “Winston-Salem Southbound Railroad: $1,112,500 for rail improvements along the W line (Davidson County).
• “Wilmington Terminal Railroad: $627,000 for rail and switch improvements along the mainline corridor (New Hanover County).
• “Yadkin Valley Railroad: $754,700 for track upgrades and rail corridor improvements along the K and CF lines (Yadkin, Surry, and Stokes counties).”