Virginia, city of Charlotte notify STB of plans to acquire portions of NS lines

Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina, officials have notified the Surface Transportation Board that they intend to acquire portions of Norfolk Southern Railway mainlines for the purpose of expanding passenger-rail service.

Last week, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) notified the STB that it intends to acquire from NS land, tracks and the improvements along the Manassas Line between Mileposts 10.76 and 32.75, and between MP 9.25 and 10.76. NS will retain an easement on the property to continue operating freight service along the line, according to the STB filing.

VPRA also wants to acquire a passenger-rail operating easement on the lines between MP 32.75 and 33.6. In its filing, the VPRA said its plans to acquire and operate the lines should be exempt from STB review.

Last week, VPRA announced it’s in talks with NS to purchase the Class I's Manassas Line and to pursue an option to extend passenger-rail service to the New River Valley on an NS main line (N-Line). To read the VPRA filing, click here.

Meanwhile, the city of Charlotte said in its STB filing that it intends to acquire roughly 29 miles of NS’s O Line located in Mecklenburg and Iredell counties, North Carolina. The city wants to use the line as part of a planned expansion of the Charlotte Area Transit System’s regional network for commuter-rail service between the city and northern suburbs.

NS would continue providing freight-rail service over the line. In its filing, the city states that the transaction with NS does not require the board’s authorization. Click here to read the city’s filing with the STB.