Norfolk Southern halts Charleston service after flood damage

[NS Newsfeed]

Norfolk Southern has shut down the rail line that runs in and out of Charleston, said Susan Terpay, the rail line's S.C. spokeswoman.

The constant deluge of rain that has hammered South Carolina for days has caused significant damage to Norfolk Southern's Charleston service and rendered it inoperable, which impacts Port of Charleston customers.

Flash flooding and record rainfall have washed out tracks and closed rail bridges, Terpay said. No information is available yet on how many miles of track are damaged or how many customers will be impacted.

The Charleston rail service will be restored on Friday at the earliest. Norfolk Southern personnel are currently assessing damages on-site. Terpay said Norfolk Southern is checking to see which specific lines were impacted by flooding in South Carolina. She said damage to the company's rail system is not statewide.

Manufacturers, retail distribution centers and other companies use the rail line to ship containers in and out of the Port of Charleston. BMW Manufacturing Co. exclusively uses Norfolk Southern rail to ship cars to the port.

BMW spokeswoman Sky Foster said Greer-built vehicles that are destined for export through the Port of Charleston will be delayed because of extensive flooding in the Columbia area. The automaker exports 70% of the cars built at its Upstate plant.

S.C. State Ports Authority spokeswoman Erin Dhand said S.C. Inland Port gates in Greer are open and trucking operations are ongoing. Terpay said Inland Port operations in Greer are continuing — except for Norfolk Southern's rail service to Charleston.

BMW cars are usually sent to the S.C. Inland Port  — a neighboring inland terminal operated by the ports authority — where they are loaded onto Norfolk Southern trains and shipped to the Columbus Street Terminal on East Bay Street in Charleston for export.

Since the Norfolk Southern line into Charleston is closed, BMW said it might move cars via truck.

"BMW will work closely with state authorities to assess alternative options, including movement by truck to the Port of Charleston," Foster said in a statement.

All Norfolk Southern gates were closed today at noon for any Norfolk Southern traffic heading to Charleston. Although there is no service out of Charleston currently, the rail line will accept traffic in the gate for outbound loading.

The 238-03 train and 238-04 trains, both originating in Atlanta and destined for Charleston, will be held in Greer and Greenville, respectively.

"Norfolk Southern has been very proactive and is working as quickly as possible to alleviate service interruptions caused by the storm," said a statement by Barbara Melvin, port senior vice president of operations and terminals. "We are working with customers to mitigate the impacts of the historic weather event until regular rail service resumes."

CSX spokeswoman Kristin Seay said several branch lines and at least two major lines have been impacted by flooding and downed trees. CSX freight continues to move in most areas but conditions are slowing the trains down. Seay said some customers in the region may not be able to be served until all tracts are restored to service.

"CSX is recovering from historic levels of rain over the weekend in the Carolinas. ... CSX crews are working to restore normal operations but the risk of additional rain and flooding continues," Seay said in a statement.