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Nearly a month after Hurricane Irene downed trees on lines, washed out track and damaged bridges, it’s finally business as usual for the New England Central Railroad (NECR). Earlier this week, the short line resumed normal service on its entire network between the Canadian border near St. Albans, Vt., and New London, Conn.
 
Although hurricane damage was especially severe on a six-mile segment near Roxbury, Vt. — which wasn’t restored until Sept. 19 — and the railroad dealt with other damaged infrastructure, “a team of close to 90 people and 15,000 tons of ballast” helped restore service, NECR officials said in a prepared statement.

NECR managers worked closely with Vermont Agency of Transportation officials to coordinate the work, gain access to otherwise closed state roads and perform emergency repairs. Several other railroads in the region, including CN, Amtrak, the Pan Am Southern and Providence & Worcester Railroad Co., provided “much-needed equipment” to transport large volumes of rock and fill, NECR officials said.  In addition, local vendors provided crushed stone for ballast, and trucking and railroad contract services.

“We appreciate our colleagues’ hard work, our customers’ patience and the cooperation of our connecting carriers,” said John Giles, president and chief executive officer of NECR owner RailAmerica Inc.