Norfolk Southern to open permanent office in East Palestine

Norfolk Southern Railway this week announced it has purchased property in East Palestine, Ohio, where it will open a permanent field office.

The Class I bought property at 248 N. Market St. for use as the office, where it will house community engagement and operational functions, WKBN reported. Building renovations are expected to begin in fall.

For the past six months, NS has been leasing space at a local church, which has housed NS employees and contractors working on recovery from the Feb. 3 NS train derailment. Eventually, the Family Assistance Center that NS opened to help East Palestine community members will relocate to the new office.

"We’ve pledged our long-term commitment to East Palestine and this permanent field office is a physical symbol of that pledge," said NS President and CEO Alan Shaw.