Norfolk Southern to add Portlock Yard track for Amtrak

CHESAPEAKE

Norfolk Southern Corp. is preparing to expand its Portlock Rail Yard in Chesapeake to accommodate the planned Amtrak passenger rail service to Norfolk.

"We're adding a track to allow passenger trains to run through the yard without interfering with coal trains," said Robin Chapman, a spokesman for the Norfolk-based freight railroad, in an email. "Construction will begin in late 2012 and will probably be complete in late 2013."

The improvements are part of a state-funded infrastructure upgrade that also includes a passenger station at Harbor Park and a "wye" at St. Julian Avenue for turning around the passenger trains, Chapman said. There also are some capacity upgrades between Norfolk and Petersburg, and a connection with CSX Corp.'s rail network at Petersburg, he said.

The state is spending $101 million to upgrade the Norfolk Southern and CSX freight rail corridors between Norfolk and Petersburg and Richmond.

The closest Amtrak connection with South Hampton Roads now is Newport News. That will change when the new service begins next year, allowing Norfolk passengers to travel to Washington, New York and Boston.

Norfolk Southern's Portlock yard, in the South Norfolk section of Chesapeake, has been there for at least a century, Chapman said.

Most of that time, it's served as a marshalling yard for freight traffic originating in Norfolk.

Today, it includes a yard for intermodal traffic - the hauling of truck-size shipping containers and truck trailers - moving in and out of the port.

Robert McCabe, (757) 446-2327, robert.mccabe@pilotonline.com