For more than a century, Norfolk Southern has played a vital role in Virginia’s economy and local communities. While many may know the company for its freight trains, fewer probably know the role Norfolk Southern has played in making Hampton Roads the global economic engine it is today.

This year marks 15 years since Norfolk Southern, the commonwealth of Virginia, the states of West Virginia and Ohio, and the Federal Highway Administration partnered to create the Heartland Corridor, a vital artery in the nation’s supply chain and a project that launched the Port of Virginia’s Norfolk International Terminal on a path to becoming one of the nation’s premier container ports.

The route, which opened to double-stack container traffic in 2010 after a decade of planning and coordination, became more than just a rail line. The corridor and the service Norfolk Southern provides on it is a lifeline to economic vitality for Hampton Roads and the commonwealth at large. This strategic freight route connected the Port of Virginia to the Midwest with unprecedented speed, enabling double-stack container trains to travel directly from Norfolk to Columbus, Ohio, and cut transit time by nearly a day. That’s a big deal for businesses and consumers alike.

Former Virginia Port Authority Executive Director Bobby Bray once called the Heartland Corridor the “capstone” of Virginia’s port development. He was right. It strengthened the port’s competitiveness and helped attract more global trade through Norfolk. Today, this rail line is one of the fastest-growing routes for international cargo in the eastern U.S. At the same time, the importance of rail to the Port of Virginia cannot be understated. Some 35% of the port’s volume moves by rail — a far higher amount than most competitor ports on the East Coast.

Norfolk Southern’s investment in the Heartland Corridor is a testament to the power of public-private partnerships to drive regional growth. For communities across Virginia — from Roanoke to Norfolk — the corridor has spurred job creation, attracted logistics and warehousing businesses and reinforced the Port of Virginia’s role as a global trade gateway. As supply chains evolve and competition intensifies, Norfolk Southern has remained a critical partner in ensuring our region remains a powerhouse of logistics and maritime trade while also removing the need for heavy truck traffic that clogs our local roads and highways. That’s a win for both commerce and the environment.

But Norfolk Southern’s contributions go beyond moving freight. The company has also been a key partner in expanding passenger rail options across the commonwealth. Norfolk Southern partnered with the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to restore Amtrak service to cities such as Norfolk, Lynchburg and Roanoke and now, by working with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, this restoration is continuing by expanding service to Christiansburg and the New River Valley. These passenger trains run on Norfolk Southern’s freight lines, thanks to a collaborative effort between the company, the commonwealth, Amtrak and VPRA. The result? More travel options for Virginians and growing ridership in places such as Norfolk.

The coordination and partnership between the community and Norfolk Southern has been key to our region’s success. We stand today as a model of what’s possible when private industry and the public sector work together to the benefit of our communities. As we look back at 15 years of Norfolk’s role as a gateway to global commerce, the role of our primary rail partner cannot be understated.

Thelma Drake of Norfolk represented Virginia’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2005-2009. She served on the House Armed Services Committee, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Natural Resources, and the House Education and Workforce Committees. Drake also served in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Norfolk and Virginia Beach from 1996 to 2004 and in Gov. Bob McDonnell’s administration as director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). In July 2021, she retired from her role as intergovernmental relations officer with the city of Norfolk.

https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/12/06/column-celebrating-a-capstone-of-virginias-port-development/