Under discussion for years –- since the 1980s-- the Heartland corridor concept is an intermodal rail route that will offer double-stack container movement via the Norfolk Southern (NS) network. Not only will twice as many containers move along the corridor, they will do so covering less distance.

Estimates are that the entire project will cost $266 million and take five years to complete. Work that has to be completed in order to make the Corridor functional includes clearing 28 tunnels and their associated obstructions to double-stack height and the building of additional intermodal facilities, increased intermodal capacity, relocation of certain rail lines and removing 14 dangerous at-grade crossings in highly urban cities.