[1][2] It is a Class III terminal switching railroad, incorporated in the State of Virginia as the Southeastern and Atlantic Railroad Company on March 4, 1896, currently operating over 26 miles of road in the Hampton Roads communities of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Chesapeake.

The Belt Line adopted its current corporate name on January 12, 1898 and acquired and absorbed the Elizabeth River Railroad in 1910.

[4] The NPBL interchanges with; Chesapeake and Albemarle Railroad, CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern.

The NPBL is a terminal switching company that owns 36 miles (58 km) of track, (plus 27 miles (43 km) of trackage rights) and links commerce around the deepwater port from Sewells Point to Portsmouth Marine Terminal, including the Southern Branch Elizabeth River.

[3] NPBL interchanges rail cars between connecting line haul carriers and various marine terminals and industries located along its tracks.