Norfolk Southern completes corridor upgrade

The double-stacking is possible because of a $320 million project that involved the widening, raising and the height of 28 tunnels in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky. (Norfolk Southern photo)

The Associated Press

9/8/2010

NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern is getting ready to celebrate the completion of a rail corridor that’s expected to increase freight traffic and reduce travel times.

After sunset on Wednesday, Norfolk Southern Train 233 will leave Hampton Roads pulling double-stacked cargo containers headed to Chicago and Ohio.

The double-stacking is possible because of a $320 million project that involved the widening, raising and the height of 28 tunnels in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ADVERTISEMENT

THE RECENT INCREASE FREIGHT VOLUME MEANS NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES ON GOTRUCKERS.COM. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Planning for the project started a decade ago, and the tunnel project took nearly three years to complete.

Upgrading the tunnels means trains will be able to shave about 230 miles and nearly two days of transit time from Hampton Roads to Chicago.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at kevinj@thetrucker.com.

Find more news and analysis from The Trucker, and share your thoughts, on Facebook.