Rail Replacement Project

The Carolinian and Piedmont Passenger and Freight Improvements (CAPPFI) rail replacement project is one of nine rail projects funded by the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program administered by the Federal Railroad Administration. The grant includes a $105.6 million federal investment into North Carolina’s rail corridor, funding nine distinct rail improvement projects. Other partners investing in strategic projects include the North Carolina Railroad, Norfolk Southern and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, bringing the overall project costs to approximately $170 million. The first project replaces aging rail along portions of the Greensboro-to-Raleigh corridor to improve long-term safety, reliability and performance for both freight and passenger rail.

The North Carolina Railroad corridor produces $247 million in annual tax revenue supported by economic activity along the corridor and more than 15,000 jobs with direct rail-served businesses along the corridor. This project investment strengthens that foundation and represents a major milestone in the state’s infrastructure development, ensuring the continued competitiveness and connectivity of North Carolina’s railways for decades to come.

Rail replacement is expected to begin near Mebane, tentatively scheduled for Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. There will then be rolling closures on the rail corridor for up to 34 miles between Mebane and Greensboro from late August through September. The remaining section of rail from Efland through Raleigh will occur sometime in 2027. Closure timing Monday through Thursday will vary by location and construction activity. 

Because the work is mobile and dependent on rail operations carried out by Norfolk Southern, exact timing may not always be known far in advance. The North Carolina Railroad Company is committed to providing communities with project updates as soon as Norfolk Southern makes information available. Public notification may include website updates, email alerts, social media posts and/or on-site signage. 

The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) is the federal grant recipient and is leading public communications and coordination with municipalities. Norfolk Southern is performing the rail construction work. NCRR is coordinating with Norfolk Southern, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, local governments, emergency responders, schools and businesses along the corridor to ensure communities receive accurate and consistent information.

NCRR regularly collaborates with government, transportation and economic partners to invest in growth and consult with communities. This project is a federally funded, railroad-executed and locally coordinated public-private partnership. NCRR will serve as the communications lead across the partnership, ensuring every stakeholder receives consistent, accurate information.

The project will improve long-term rail infrastructure serving the community and the state. Replacing worn rail helps reduce maintenance-related delays, improves reliability and supports safe, predictable rail operations.

Worn rail can also cause unpredictable failures, which can lead to supply chain delays, unplanned road closures and safety concerns. The addition of new, continuously welded rail eliminates joints and imperfections that cause wear, vibration and risk over time. This will reduce the chance of track failures and crossing incidents. A brief closure now allows crews to install infrastructure intended to serve the corridor for decades. 
 

Access will be maintained from alternate directions where possible, but vehicles will not be able to cross the tracks at closed rail crossings.

Residents should contact the municipal contact listed in local closure notices.

Municipalities should route project-specific questions, media inquiries, safety concerns or schedule conflicts to the designated North Carolina Railroad Company contact.

For emergencies, residents should always call 911.
 

The North Carolina Railroad Company and partners will identify businesses near affected crossings and provide advance notice where possible.

Notices to businesses will be as specific as possible with directions customers and deliveries can follow to reach the business.
 

Yes. Emergency services and school transportation contacts should receive crossing-specific closure and detour information from Norfolk Southern contractor Safety Services & Supply. The North Carolina Railroad Company has notified municipalities in advance of anticipated closures several times. 

Municipalities are trusted, local information sources. Their role is to help share accurate, timely and localized information with residents, businesses, emergency responders, schools and other affected audiences. Municipalities should also help identify local concerns, critical facilities, access issues and community groups that may need direct outreach.

Municipalities can also help by sharing clear maps, posting access instructions, amplifying business-specific updates, discouraging unnecessary cut-through traffic and helping direct questions to the appropriate project contact.

When possible, municipalities should reinforce that businesses remain open and accessible from alternate routes.

Municipalities should coordinate with local police and fire contacts to ensure emergency services are notified and will continue to run uninterrupted. 
 

If a closure is extended, the North Carolina Railroad Company and municipal partners will issue an update as soon as possible acknowledging the change, explain what is known, provide revised timing if available and state when the next update will be shared.

Updates will be shared through [MUNICIPALITY TO INSERT COMMUNICATION CHANNELS WEBSITE/SOCIAL/EMAIL/SMS/PHONE] and on the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) website.