Railroad deals another blow to Red Line

A Norfolk Southern official said Tuesday the railroad would like to work with backers of the proposed commuter train between Charlotte and Mt. Mourne, but that the current Red Line plan is “fatally flawed” and will not be supported by the railroad.

In an emailed letter to Paul F. Morris, deputy secretary for transit for the N.C. Department of Transportation, Norfolk Southern’s John Edwards said the railroad has “followed with interest and concern the recent campaign to introduce ‘Red Line’ commuter service on the Norfolk Southern-owned rail line between Charlotte and Mooresville.

“Norfolk Southern stands ready to study with NCDOT and CATS the introduction of commuter rail service on the Norfolk Southern 0 Line,” continued Edwards, general director of passenger policy for the railroad. “Although I cannot now anticipate the eventual conclusions of such a study, Norfolk Southern commits to ensuring that any new study is based upon realistic operating, financial and regulatory assumptions.

“Having said that, Norfolk Southern cannot support the current ‘Red Line’ plan proposed by NCDOT for use of Norfolk Southern's property. The ‘Red Line’ plan is fatally flawed and based

upon assumptions about the projected freight use of the 0 Line that are no longer valid.

“For those reasons,” added Edwards, “the current proposal is not feasible and does not constitute a starting point for further discussions. The development process, therefore, is premature and will not lead to an accelerated construction schedule.”

Edwards told Morris that “if NCDOT wishes to pursue some form of commuter rail on Norfolk Southern's "0" Line, Norfolk Southern will be ready to begin the study based upon updated freight operating assumptions, and the correct financial, tax, liability and regulatory models. This process is not short or easy. It will be an expensive process for NCDOT. But we will work with you to ensure that together we get it right.”

The letter is the latest blow to the proposed $454 million Red Line project. Last month, Edwards criticized DOT and CATS for moving forward with their plans without consulting Norfolk Southern, on whose tracks the commuter train would run.

In January, Iredell’s county commissioners took a unanimous vote of “non-support” for the Red Line plan. The commuter train’s backers have said that Iredell’s support is mandatory for the project to continue.