United States freight company Norfolk Southern has revealed that it has completed work to improve rail infrastructure across the state of Alabama, which will increase capacity and make the network more fluid and stronger.

The company, which is to merge with Union Pacific next year, began the work in 2024. The improvements have included various projects along Norfolk Southern’s 3B Corridor, a route that connects businesses and markets in Alabama’s northern and central area with the Port of Mobile.

The projects included both terminal and track-based improvements, as well as targeted grade crossing (level crossing) improvements.

Key improvements carried out include:

• extending and relocating Lacey Siding, an important siding in Shelby County, to reduce blocked crossings in the nearby neighbourhood of Brantleyville
• building a new siding track and track alignments and installing CTC (Centralized Traffic Control) to handle freight at Wilton Siding, Yard and Crossing
• installing CTC and extending four sidings in Fremont, Catherine, Sunny South and Jackson in Shelby, Wilcox and Clarke counties.

The company is also planning a new grade crossing (level crossing) in coordination with the city and Shelby County, and is working with Wabtec to modernise thirty-three of its locomotives.

Norfolk Southern believes that the work it has carried out has enhanced the service it can provide in moving goods for key industries in the region, which include automotive, chemicals, forestry, paper and packaging, waste, steel and energy. The improvements also allow better access to the busy international Port of Mobile.

Norfolk Southern employs about 1,600 workers and operates more than 1,300 miles of track in Alabama. 

The company’s completed infrastructure upgrades represent exactly the kind of private-sector commitment that strengthens Alabama’s economy for the long term.

By following through on its promise to expand capacity, improve freight movement, and support continued growth around the state, Norfolk Southern is helping make Alabama more competitive while also delivering meaningful benefits to the communities where it operates.

Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair