Draft EA Reviews Norfolk Southern Track in London, Ohio
Published: November 7, 2026
By: Adam Burns
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board Office of Environmental Analysis issued a draft environmental assessment on November 6, 2026, in Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 426X). The line is about 0.96 miles of Norfolk Southern track in the City of London, Madison County, Ohio, from milepost XD 24.73 +/- to milepost XD 25.69 +/-. The draft says it was made available to the public on November 6, and it sets the comment due date at November 20, 2026. It does not grant the abandonment.
Norfolk Southern AC44C6M #4351 and #4555 have eastbound empty trash train 62V at East Liverpool, Ohio on August 1, 2025. Doug Kroll photo.
What the November 2 notice already set
The abandonment notice was published in the Federal Register on November 2, 2026, as FR Doc. 2026-22256, at 91 FR 69032. It was decided October 28, 2026, by Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel. The notice says the line traverses Zip Code 43140. Norfolk Southern certified that no local traffic has moved over the line for at least two years, and that any overhead traffic can be rerouted. The draft assessment, citing the railroad, says no local traffic has moved over the line over the last five years, and that there is no overhead traffic to reroute. Those are two statements. This article does not merge them.
If no formal expression of intent to file an offer of financial assistance has been received, the exemption is effective on December 2, 2026, unless it is stayed. Petitions to stay that do not involve environmental issues, formal expressions of intent to file an offer of financial assistance, and interim trail-use requests must be filed by November 12, 2026. Petitions to reopen, and requests for public-use conditions, must be filed by November 23, 2026. Any employee hurt by the abandonment is protected under the Oregon Short Line conditions, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). False or misleading information in the notice makes the exemption void from the start. A notice of consummation is due by November 2, 2027, or the authority to abandon expires if nothing legally bars consummation.
The November 2 notice also said comments on environmental or historic-preservation matters must be filed within 15 days after the draft assessment becomes available. The draft assessment itself prints November 20, 2026, as the comment due date. Both dates are in the record. This article does not pick one.
What Norfolk Southern told the environmental office
The railroad says the line was part of the Columbus and Xenia Railroad, opened in 1850, and reached Norfolk Southern in the Conrail acquisition. The right-of-way runs from 65 feet to 100 feet wide. Two bridges are on the line, one over Oak Run and one over an unnamed waterway. Land beside the line is residential and commercial. The combined environmental and historic report was filed October 13, 2026. The City of London and Madison County had not answered when the draft was written. The office is sending them a copy.
If authority is granted, Norfolk Southern does not plan to salvage the piece from milepost XD 24.73 +/- to Main Street. It would reclassify that piece as industrial track. It does plan to salvage from Main Street to milepost XD 25.69 +/- at Midway Street, taking up rail, crossties, and other appurtenances. The draft says the two bridges on that salvage piece would be left in place. The roadbed would be smoothed. No ballast would be removed, no new soil would be disturbed, and there would be no digging or burying. On a phone call on October 26, 2026, the railroad said small trees have grown in the right-of-way west of Cherry Street, and that it plans to cut those trees during salvage. The draft places the west end of the line between Maple Street and South Walnut Street, and the east end at the eastern edge of Midway Street.
What the office recommends
The office does not believe the proposal would cause significant environmental impacts. If the recommended conditions are imposed, it concludes the abandonment will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment, and that an environmental impact statement is unnecessary. That conclusion is the office conclusion. It is not a Board grant of authority.
Because trees would be cut, the office says the work may affect the Indiana bat, and is not likely to adversely affect it. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed in a letter dated November 2, 2026. The recommended condition limits clearing of trees 5 inches in diameter at breast height, or larger, to October 1 through March 31. Smaller trees may be cleared at any time. Cutting must not break a connecting corridor between two or more forest patches of at least 5 acres, and it must not exceed 5 acres of forest. A second condition covers migratory birds: clear vegetation before or after the nesting season, or, if clearing falls in that season, consult the Fish and Wildlife Service on nest surveys first. The office also says the proposal is not likely to jeopardize the salamander mussel or the monarch butterfly. No critical habitat for those species is in the project area.
The Ohio History Connection, as the state historic preservation office, said no historic properties listed in or eligible for the National Register would be affected in the right-of-way. The office agrees. It is sending the draft to the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; the Seneca-Cayuga Nation; and the Shawnee Tribe.
How to comment
Environmental comments can be filed on the Board website under Environmental Comments. A login is not required. Mail may go to Karen Stevens, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001, Attention: Environment Filing, Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 426X). The draft lists Karen.Stevens@stb.gov and 202-245-0304. Questions on trail use, public use, and other reuse options go to the Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance at (202) 245-0238. Pleadings in the abandonment docket also go to the railroad representative named in the November 2 notice, William A. Mullins, Mullins Law Group PLLC, 2001 L St. NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20036. The draft is signed by Danielle Gosselin, director of the Office of Environmental Analysis.
Related reading on American-Rails.com
Sources
- Surface Transportation Board, Office of Environmental Analysis, Draft Environmental Assessment, Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 426X), Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Abandonment Exemption, Madison County, Ohio, service date November 6, 2026. Made available to the public November 6, 2026. Comment due date November 20, 2026. Danielle Gosselin, Director, Office of Environmental Analysis. Mileposts, salvage plan, traffic statement, Indiana bat measures, historic finding, tribal distribution list, and the Stevens contact are as printed above. The environmental and historic report was filed October 13, 2026. The tree note is a phone call on October 26, 2026.
- Federal Register, November 2, 2026, FR Doc. 2026-22256, 91 FR 69032, Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 426X). Decided October 28, 2026, by Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel. Zip Code 43140. Two-year local-traffic certification and the overhead-reroute certification. Employee protection under Oregon Short Line, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). Effective December 2, 2026, unless stayed, if no offer-of-assistance intent has been filed. November 12, 2026, for a non-environmental stay, an assistance intent, and a trail request. November 23, 2026, for a petition to reopen and a public-use request. Environmental comments within 15 days after the draft assessment becomes available. Consummation notice by November 2, 2027. Pleadings copied to William A. Mullins at the address above. A false or misleading notice is void from the start.
Recent Articles
-
Draft EA Reviews Norfolk Southern Track in London, Ohio
Nov 07, 26 11:35 AM
The Surface Transportation Board environmental office issued a draft assessment on November 6, 2026, for about 0.96 miles of Norfolk Southern track in London, Ohio. Comments are due November 20. -
Metrolink Lines Will Not Run on Three Routes November 7
Nov 07, 26 10:53 AM
Metrolink will not run the Ventura County, Orange County, or Inland Empire-Orange County lines on November 7 and 8, 2026. The advisory says no substitute transportation will be provided. -
Hartford Line Adds a Weekday Round Trip on November 16
Nov 07, 26 10:48 AM
Connecticut said the Hartford Line adds a weekday New Haven-Hartford round trip on November 16, starts a morning train in Springfield, and extends weekend stops to Windsor and Windsor Locks. -
Board Issues a Policy Statement on Rail Preemption
Nov 07, 26 10:44 AM
The Surface Transportation Board placed a policy statement on public inspection for the November 9 Federal Register. It reviews existing preemption precedent and says it makes no binding determination… -
NJ Transit Restores Lines After the Newark Drawbridge Stop
Nov 07, 26 10:37 AM
NJ Transit said Morris and Essex service between Hackettstown and Dover, and Montclair-Boonton service between Hackettstown and Montclair State University, resumed after the Newark Drawbridge stop. -
EMD "SD35" Locomotives: Data Sheet, Specs, Roster
Nov 06, 26 10:35 PM
EMD SD35, 2,500 horsepower, 16-cylinder 567D3A, built June 1964 through January 1966. 360 locomotives. Specifications and the production roster by owner, serial, and order. -
EMD "SDP35" Locomotives: Data Sheet, Specs, Roster
Nov 06, 26 10:32 PM
EMD SDP35, the steam-generator SD35. 35 locomotives, July 1964 through September 1965. Seaboard Air Line 1100-1119, Atlantic Coast Line 550, Louisville and Nashville 1700-1703, Union Pacific 1400-1409… -
RJ Corman Will Be Replaced on Part of the Luzerne Lines
Nov 06, 26 01:34 PM
A November 6, 2026 notice says Wilkes-Barre Terminal Railway would acquire about 59.65 miles in Luzerne County and replace R.J. Corman as operator on part of the line. The earliest date is November 22… -
NS Names a Student Hub at the University of Georgia
Nov 06, 26 12:03 PM
Norfolk Southern said a 100,000 dollar gift named a student-organization hub in Driftmier Engineering Center. The University of Georgia marked the naming on October 26. The space is for 23 clubs. -
Union Pacific Filed Its Vena Recording Certification
Nov 06, 26 11:56 AM
Union Pacific filed a November 5, 2026 verified statement that the confidential label is off the March 17 Vena recording and that parties of record received a copy at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. -
OmniTRAX Adds Tenants at Its Blue Island Hub
Nov 06, 26 10:26 AM
OmniTRAX has signed new construction-company leases at its 90-acre Blue Island, Illinois, hub and is planning a second phase. -
Veterans and Active-Duty Members Exceed 16 Percent of Norfolk Southern
Nov 06, 26 10:14 AM
Norfolk Southern said on November 5, 2026, that more than 3,000 veterans and active-duty service members are more than 16 percent of its workforce. This year grants are $100,000 and $50,000. -
BNSF: Merger Would Put Half of U.S. Rail Shipments Under One Railroad
Nov 06, 26 10:00 AM
BNSF chief marketing officer Tom G. Williams told customers on November 3, 2026, that a Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger would put about half of U.S. rail shipments under one railroad. Nothing is… -
Amtrak Opens a Winter Fare Sale
Nov 06, 26 09:28 AM
Amtrak opened a Winter Wanderlust sale on November 5, 2026. Book by November 12 for travel from December 1, 2026, through March 14, 2027. Blackout dates apply. Coach and Acela Business only. -
CN and CPKC Report October Grain Records
Nov 06, 26 08:50 AM
CPKC reported October 2026 grain records in Canada and the United States. CN reported 3.54 million metric tonnes across Canada. The releases do not print a combined total. -
New Brunswick Transload Gets CN Rail Service
Nov 06, 26 08:49 AM
CN said on November 4, 2026, that it has started serving AD Gagnon Transload Services near Grand Falls, New Brunswick. The site is three kilometres from the Trans-Canada Highway and lists room for 106… -
Together, Freight and Passenger Rail Can Grow, Union Pacific Says
Nov 06, 26 08:47 AM
Union Pacific said on November 5, 2026, that passenger obligations would remain if it combines with Norfolk Southern. The capacity claim is a Union Pacific analysis, not a Surface Transportation Board… -
FM "C-Liner" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, Photos
Nov 05, 26 11:19 PM
Fairbanks-Morse Consolidation Line cab units, the C-Liners. 165 locomotives, Beloit and Kingston, March 1950 through February 1955. Models, specs, and production rosters. -
Atlanta, Birmingham & Coast Railroad: Map, History, Roster
Nov 05, 26 12:03 PM
Atlanta, Birmingham & Coast, from Brunswick and Waycross to Atlanta and Birmingham. Atlantic Coast Line control at the close of 1926. Merged in January 1946 as the Western Division. Steam roster of th… -
El Paso & Southwestern Railroad: Map, History, Logo
Nov 05, 26 12:00 PM
The El Paso & Southwestern, the Phelps Dodge copper railroad from Tucson to the Rock Island at Tucumcari. Southern Pacific control on October 31, 1924. -
Brightline Says Orlando Service Has Resumed
Nov 05, 26 11:55 AM
Brightline said on November 5, 2026, that trains to and from Orlando have resumed after weather suspensions in Brevard County. Later that morning the departures page still showed the Orlando segment s… -
Metra Customers Must Sign Up Again
Nov 05, 26 11:43 AM
Metra says customers who want service alerts must sign up again at metratracker.com. The November 2 story says the new system has launched and the old email list is shut down. A notice on the same pag… -
Norfolk Southern Packs Six Projects Into One Window
Nov 05, 26 11:38 AM
Norfolk Southern used one 26-hour window on the W Line for six projects in Indiana and Kentucky, including three bridge replacements. The October 27 account does not give the calendar day of the work. -
CSX: More Time to Comment on an Inspection Waiver
Nov 05, 26 11:29 AM
The Federal Railroad Administration extended comments on a CSX petition for relief from some qualified mechanical inspector rules until December 2, 2026. The November 2 notice does not grant the waive… -
Brightline Expects Orlando Service on Thursday
Nov 05, 26 09:21 AM
Brightline said on November 4, 2026, that it expects trains to and from Orlando to resume on Thursday, November 5. South Florida stations kept running. The departures page still showed the Orlando seg… -
Union Pacific: More Time to Comment on an Inspection Waiver
Nov 05, 26 09:15 AM
The Federal Railroad Administration extended comments on a Union Pacific petition for relief from some qualified mechanical inspector rules until December 2, 2026. The November 2 notice does not grant… -
Wisconsin Opens Comments on the 2027 Freight Plan
Nov 05, 26 09:03 AM
WisDOT opened the draft 2027 State Freight Plan for comment through December 1, 2026. The plan covers freight rail with highways, harbors, aviation, and intermodal links. Completion is expected in sum… -
U.S. Rail Traffic Rose 3.5 Percent in the Week Ending October 31
Nov 05, 26 08:52 AM
U.S. railroads moved 514,080 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending October 31, 2026, up 3.5 percent from a year earlier, the Association of American Railroads said on November 4. -
Muni and Bay Area Transit Measures Pass
Nov 05, 26 08:49 AM
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said on November 4, 2026 that Proposition H and a regional transit measure passed. Proposition H is about 160 million dollars a year for Muni. The regiona… -
Ground Rules Set for Responsive Applications
Nov 05, 26 08:47 AM
Decision No. 46, served November 4, 2026, denies a request to add Walsenburg to the Union Pacific interchange list and sets what CPKC and CN must include in responsive applications. Four CPKC proposal… -
Video of the Vena Address Must Be Released
Nov 05, 26 08:42 AM
The Surface Transportation Board on November 4, 2026 denied the Union Pacific appeal and ordered the March 17 shipper-conference recording released to the parties by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on November 5. C… -
Chicago & North Western Iron Ore C628s
Nov 04, 26 11:47 PM
Chicago and North Western C628s 6701-6730, the ex-Norfolk and Western high-hoods, in Upper Peninsula iron-ore service from the mid-1970s until December 21, 1986, and what happened to each unit. -
Warrenton Railroad: Serving Warrenton, NC (1884-1985)
Nov 04, 26 10:33 PM
The three-mile Warrenton Railroad, from Warren Plains to the North Carolina county seat. Chartered January 28, 1871. First train November 8, 1884. Closed in 1985. -
Rio Grande Steam Locomotives (Since 1900)
Nov 04, 26 11:40 AM
Denver & Rio Grande Western steam locomotives built since 1900. Standard gauge quantity 435 and narrow gauge 48. Challengers, 2-8-8-2s, Mountains, Northerns, and the K-27, K-28, K-36, and K-37. -
Rio Grande Diesel Locomotives (All-Time)
Nov 04, 26 11:39 AM
Denver & Rio Grande Western diesel locomotives, each frame once. 554 units, from the 1941 NW2 through the 1990 GP60s. FT, F3, F7, and F9 sets are not counted again under their 1950 numbers. -
Rio Grande Railroad: Map, Logo, History, Rosters
Nov 04, 26 11:34 AM
Denver & Rio Grande Western history, from William Jackson Palmer and the October 27, 1870 charter through the Royal Gorge, the Moffat route, the California Zephyr, and Union Pacific common control… -
Lindblom Gift Expands the Fort Wayne Restoration Shop
Nov 04, 26 11:14 AM
Art Lindblom gave the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society more than $1.4 million, its largest single gift, to expand the New Haven shop. The addition is planned for late 2026 and early 2027. A sepa… -
Design Contract Awarded for the Forest Park Branch
Nov 04, 26 11:09 AM
The Chicago Transit Board approved a design contract for about 13 miles of Blue Line track from the Illinois Medical District to the I-290 Bridge. The release summary calls it a $17 million contract… -
Kanawha River Railroad: The Norfolk Southern Lease Is Renewed
Nov 04, 26 10:51 AM
Kanawha River Railroad filed to keep leasing 309.45 miles from Norfolk Southern in West Virginia and Ohio. The second amendment is dated August 17, 2026. The Board has not set the date the exemption t… -
Short Line Center Awarded a $5.625 Million Grant
Nov 04, 26 10:35 AM
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association received a $5.625 million CRISI grant on October 20, 2026, for the Short Line Training Center. A 25 percent match brings the project to $7.5 m… -
Palestine and Rusk Track Rebuild Finishes Its First Phase
Nov 04, 26 09:13 AM
The Texas & Eastern Railroad has finished the first phase of a roughly $30 million track project between Palestine and Rusk. Phase I used a $13.4 million CRISI grant. Phase II, at $8.54 million, adds… -
Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx Get Subway Power Design
Nov 04, 26 09:12 AM
STV said on November 2, 2026, that MTA Construction and Development selected the firm to manage design of 10 subway substations and 12 circuit breaker houses in four New York boroughs. No contract pri… -
Chicago's Regional Transit Budget Goes Out for Comment
Nov 04, 26 09:07 AM
The Northern Illinois Transit Authority opened its first regional budget for comment through December 4, 2026. The proposal is $5.04 billion for 2027 operations and $9.73 billion in capital work throu… -
VIA Rail Finishes the Toronto Maintenance Centre
Nov 04, 26 09:05 AM
VIA Rail completed a four-year modernization of its Toronto Maintenance Centre on November 2, 2026. The Government of Canada invested $310 million. The shop supports 32 Corridor trainsets and will sus… -
Brightline Suspends Orlando Service for High Water
Nov 04, 26 09:02 AM
Brightline suspended trains between Orlando and West Palm Beach on November 2, 2026, because of high water in Brevard County. A later post the same day kept the suspension until 2:00 p.m. on November… -
Hiawatha West Draws Federal Funding Toward Madison
Nov 04, 26 08:58 AM
Amtrak welcomed a CRISI selection for Hiawatha West, extending Chicago-Milwaukee service toward Madison, Watertown, and Pewaukee. Wisconsin said on October 16 that the award is over $218 million. -
Seattle's Train Maintenance Facility Opens for Airo Trains
Nov 04, 26 08:56 AM
Amtrak cut the ribbon October 23, 2026, on a $250 million Seattle shop for Airo trains on the Cascades route. The building came in on time and $50 million under budget and opens in phases through the… -
Aberdeen Carolina and Western Wins a $19.9 Million Grant
Nov 04, 26 08:46 AM
The Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway won a $19.9 million CRISI grant for about 30 miles of welded rail in Montgomery and Stanly counties. The railroad and NCDOT are putting up a 52 percent match… -
Alco "C628" Locomotives: Roster, Data Sheet, Specs
Nov 03, 26 07:57 PM
Alco Century C628: 2,750 hp C-C road switcher, 186 built from December 1963 to December 1968. Production roster, specs, and where the high-hood Norfolk and Western units went. -
Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF): Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Nov 03, 26 12:54 PM
Santa Fe diesel locomotives, each new frame once, with construction numbers and order numbers. The counted total is 3,964, from the 1935 boxcabs through the SD75Ms.
