WHITSON, Ala. — Norfolk Southern’s export metallurgical coal business is getting a significant boost with the completion of Warrior Met Coal’s Blue Creek Mine near Whitson, Ala., northwest of Birmingham. The $1 billion longwall mine and balloon loadout track has the ability to load up to 10 unit trains per week and produce up to 6 million tons of coal per year. The majority of unit trains loaded at Blue Creek will be delivered to the Port of Mobile’s McDuffie Coal Terminal for export.
The new business is a drastic turnaround for Norfolk Southern’s 25.7-mile Berry Branch, dormant for much of the past decade. In late 2024 and in anticipation of the new mine, NS started laying unit trains of ballast along the branch between Parrish, Ala., and at the loadout near Whitson.
In May 2025, for the first time in 10 years, NS loaded its first train at the mine and in early January 2026, a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the mine signaled that operations have fully commenced and rail traffic is ramping up.
“We’re proud to be partners with Warrior Met Coal in servicing their new Blue Creek facility in Alabama,” Chief Commercial Officer Ed Elkins said during Norfolk Southern’s earnings call on Jan. 29. “Back in 2024, we noted that the mine was in development, and we’re equally proud now to have attended the formal ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this month. As the mining operations, the belts, and the rail loadout are now fully operational, we’re pleased to be ramping up rail service and delivering high quality metallurgical coal to markets around the world.”
To further support the new coal business and merchandise growth, NS is in the process of investing $200 million in improvements to its 3-B Corridor between Norris Yard, on the outskirts of Birmingham, and Mobile [see “Norfolk Southern announces $200 million …,” Trains.com, Aug. 1, 2024]. The project involves building 21 miles of new track, including new passing sidings, a yard expansion in Wilton, Ala., and grade crossing upgrades. The corridor improvements started in 2024 and are scheduled for completion in 2027.
The 319-mile corridor is not only handling Warrior’s new seaborne metallurgical coal trains, but is busy with a variety of agricultural products, autos, chemicals, forest products, and steel.
Further underscoring the significant volume associated with the new business is a separate $200 million commitment by the Alabama Port Authority for enhanced logistical capacity at the McDuffie Coal Terminal. The Port of Mobile is served by CSX, NS, CN, CPKC, and BNSF, with the port also operating the Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks railroad.
In addition to the new NS-served Blue Creek Mine, CSX serves three separate Warrior Met coal mines at Blue Creek Nos. 4, 5, and 7 near Brookwood, Ala., west of Birmingham, with those trains also going to the Port of Mobile. Warrior Met also relies on river barges for additional tons to Mobile.
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My home in Satsuma, AL backs up to the NS 3B and it great to see the new coal trains. Since early last year the coal trains have steadily increased to where there are around five round trips a week. There’s talk that NS may start intermodal service also out of Mobile. I hope so as I’d like seeing the additional trains but love to see less truck traffic on I-65.