By Karen Riley @Adobe Stock

Chris Salvemini of WBIR reports that Helene’s storm surge caused severe damage to CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads in the region. Salvemini reports:

A Norfolk Southern rail line that runs through Asheville is expected to be out for at least three months while crews work on recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene.

The railroad company said the impacted track runs from Morristown, Tennessee, to Salisbury, North Carolina. Service was restored to some of the track as of Tuesday — between Morristown and Newport, as well as Old Fort and Salisbury.

However, parts of the railroad closer to Asheville continue to need work. Crews were trying to restore service from Newport to Asheville on Tuesday, with service anticipated to be restored by Jan. 31, 2025. […]

“Due to the remote nature and mountain topography of the region, coupled with the conditions following the storm and subsequent flooding, Norfolk Southern teams have had difficulty assessing damage along portions of the line around Asheville and over Black Mountain, where much track has been completely destroyed,” the release said.

CSX, another railroad company, said some delays remained after Hurricane Helene impacted upper East Tennessee. It also said its line from Spruce Pine to Erwin saw “extensive damage,” and it could not provide an estimated reopening time for that area.

However, it was able to mostly restore service in the days following the storm. As of Tuesday, it said its “Florida, Georgia, Midwest, and Southern Zones” were fully operational.

Read more here.