rail

Virginia Transformer selects Alabama for major manufacturing hub with NS rail infrastructure

Virginia Transformer will construct a 600,000 square-foot power transformer manufacturing facility at Shoals Research Airpark in Colbert County, Alabama, with operations expected to commence in January 2028. The plant will employ approximately 1,100 workers and produce transformers ranging from 2 MVA to 500 MVA capacity on approximately 90 acres. Norfolk Southern will provide a dedicated rail spur serving the facility to support shipping and supply chain operations. The transformer market is experiencing accelerated demand across advanced manufacturing, mining, energy infrastructure, and grid expansion sectors. Power transformers represent among the most complex industrial shipments. They frequently exceed standard dimensions and weigh hundreds of thousands of pounds. Rail transport offers the specialized equipment, precise routing, and supply chain coordination necessary for such cargo while providing sustainability advantages over alternative modes. Norfolk Southern's GVP Industrial Development Craig Hudson noted, "When you're moving infrastructure at this scale, there's no substitute for the efficiency, sustainability benefits, and safety of rail." The Growing Alabama program facilitated the site selection.