By Railfan & Railroad Staff

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — R.J. Corman Railroad Company, LLC announced this week that it had entered into an agreement to purchase a 43-mile branch line and lease 20 miles of track from Norfolk Southern in North Carolina to create its 19th railroad. The Raleigh & Fayetteville Railroad is expected to begin operations next month, assuming it gets all the needed regulatory approvals.

The newly created short line will operate between Raleigh and Fayetteville, serving customers in Wake, Harnett and Cumberland counties. Traffic is expected to include chemicals, metals, construction materials and agricultural products. The new railroad will interchange with NS at Raleigh and both CSX Transportation and the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad in Fayetteville. 

“With this acquisition, we will expand our footprint in the Carolinas, a market where the company has been highly successful. R. J. Corman is committed to top-of-the-line customer service, and we are eager to replicate this experience for future business partners in the area,” said R. J. Corman Railroad Group President and CEO Ed Quinn.