CSX Pulls Plug on NC Rail: Communities Lose Tracks
Published Date: 12/12/2025
Notice
Summary
CSX Transportation is stopping train service on a 21.7-mile rail line in Robeson and Bladen Counties, North Carolina, because no one’s used it for over two years. Local businesses and communities in zip codes 28384, 28306, and 28358 will be affected, but freight has been rerouted elsewhere. The change kicks in January 12, 2026, unless someone steps up to keep the trains running by December 22, 2025.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Rail service stopped for 21.72 miles
CSX will stop train service over a 21.72-mile rail line in Robeson and Bladen Counties, North Carolina, affecting communities in ZIP codes 28384, 28306, and 28358. The discontinuance takes effect January 12, 2026 unless an offer of financial assistance is pursued by December 22, 2025.
Railroad employees get statutory protections
CSX must protect any employees adversely affected by the discontinuance under the Oregon Short Line protections referenced in the notice. A petition for partial revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) can be filed to challenge whether those protections are adequate.
Overhead freight rerouted to other lines
CSX certified that any overhead freight that used the line can be and has been rerouted over other lines. This means businesses shipping via overhead traffic may continue to receive service through alternate routes.
Deadline to seek subsidy to keep service
If anyone wants to subsidize continued rail service, they must file a formal expression of intent to file an Offer of Financial Assistance (OFA) by December 22, 2025. If no OFA intent is filed, the discontinuance becomes effective on January 12, 2026.
No trail use or environmental review here
Because this is a discontinuance (not abandonment), interim trail use/railbanking and public-use conditions are not appropriate for this line, and the discontinuance does not require environmental review. Communities cannot use this proceeding to request railbanking or public-use conversion.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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