Norfolk Southern

At the recent Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) Annual Meeting, where over 600 economic development professionals and allies came together, I had the opportunity to discuss the vital role of our rail network in fostering economic development across the South with Bert Brantley, President and CEO of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.    For almost 200 years, Norfolk Southern has been a trusted partner in driving economic development across the South. This accelerated in 1894 with the Southern Railway's industrial development department and has evolved into a robust pipeline of opportunities today — with 450 active projects and over 800 available rail-served sites.   A big thank you to our Thoroughbred team for representing Norfolk Southern at the conference: Sr. Communications Manager, Marketing Katie Byrd, GVP Industrial Development Craig Hudson, Sr. Industrial Development Manager Brian Gwin (current chair of the SEDC), Director Industrial Development Mike Grim, Director Industrial Development MaryBeth Flournoy, MBA, and Industrial Development Manager Mary Lesa Pegg.     Read more about Norfolk Southern’s impact here: https://lnkd.in/eKNjWVuD. 

Thank you to these interNS for spending your summer with Norfolk Southern! I had the opportunity to meet our 65 interns from over 32 universities and hear about their experience as part of the Thoroughbred team. These interns spent the past three months learning about all the different facets of the railroad – from engineering and industrial development to talent acquisition and operations, and more. Their final presentations highlighted their impressive learning and contributions, and they’re leaving NS a better place. An internship is a great opportunity to learn a business and start a career, which is why Norfolk Southern is committed to providing these opportunities. I enjoyed meeting all our summer interns, and I can’t wait to see what these future leaders accomplish next to keep America's economy rolling.

Norfolk Southern is making strategic investments exceeding $200 million to enhance our 3B Corridor, which connects northern and central Alabama to the Port of Mobile and destinations worldwide: https://lnkd.in/e5S24YsU These capacity improvements will strengthen our key rail line and accommodate expected growth in agriculture, automotive, chemicals, forestry, steel, and more, as the Southeast continues to progress as an economic powerhouse for the US economy. The project involves a mix of terminal and track-based infrastructure improvements, including: 🛤️ Significant capacity projects in central and southwest Alabama 👏 Customer-specific projects in north Alabama and locations north of Mobile 🚧 Yard upgrades in Wilton 🚂 Grade crossing improvements throughout the region At NS, our goal is not only to meet the current demands of our customers but also to anticipate future market needs. These investments will bring immediate returns by making rail an even more competitive part of our nation’s supply chain and expanding our customers’ end-to-end solutions.

The latest Carbon Disclosure Project report reveals that supply chain emissions are 11.4 times higher than operational emissions for the average company. Choosing the right mode of transportation is the biggest opportunity for reducing emissions, and rail is the answer. Railroads move 45% of our country's long-distance freight but produce only 7% of all freight-related emissions. By shipping with Norfolk Southern instead of trucks, our customers avoid approximately 15 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to 1.5 billion gallons of truck diesel. We're collaborating with over 25% of our customers who have public sustainability goals, and we're making it easier for all to track these savings with tools like our Carbon Calculator.    Recognized on USA Today’s Climate Leader List, we're setting the standard for a cleaner supply chain. Our 2024 “Forging a Better Tomorrow" report highlights significant sustainability milestones in green shipping by rail and other initiatives in safety, community, and leadership. Norfolk Southern Advancements Making a Difference: - Low-Carbon Fuels: Used 8 million+ gallons in 2023. - Renewable Energy: New solar panels at Austell Intermodal Terminal. - Intermodal Crane Replacements: Upgrading to hybrid/electric models by 2034. - Locomotive Modernization: Converted 760 older locomotives to fuel-efficient AC traction. Together, we can build a better, greener future. Explore the full report to learn more -> https://lnkd.in/e6xCMeda #Sustainability #RailFreight #CarbonReduction #GreenTransportation #NorfolkSouthern 

We’re excited to announce the recipients of our third annual Thoroughbred Scholars Program, awarding college scholarships to over 100 children of our Norfolk Southern colleagues! 🎓 This year’s scholars hail from 19 states across our network, with more than 90 scholarships going to the children of our field employees, including conductors, mechanics, engineers, and other front-line workers. Congratulations to these outstanding students for their hard work and dedication to their education and communities! At NS, supporting our people means supporting their families and investing in the future. Since launching the Thoroughbred Scholars Program in 2022, we have awarded over $1.4 million in scholarship funding to our team members’ children. 🔗 Learn more at https://lnkd.in/ehWmUrWj.

ICYMI: Our CEO Alan Shaw recently joined Morgan L Brennan on CNBC's Squawk on the Street to discuss Norfolk Southern's Q2 2024 earnings results, our ongoing service improvements, and to provide insights into the macroeconomic outlook. 🔗 Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eff_KVSu.

Happy to see Norfolk Southern bring the Operation Awareness & Response train to my hometown of Wentzville this weekend to train our first responders. The OAR program was launched in 2015 to educate the public about the economic importance of the safe movement of hazardous materials by rail and to connect emergency first responders in Norfolk Southern communities with information and training resources. You can find more information here: https://lnkd.in/gTMYScHi

Our railroaders keep us rolling and the economy moving, 24/7, 365. #TeamNS 🚂 📍 7 Mile Yard, Charleston, SC

Happy rails and best of luck in retirement to Norfolk Southern locomotive engineer Todd Treaster. Todd, currently an engineer on the HI10 Altoona to Hollidaysburg, began his career as a railroader with Conrail on August 3, 1994. When asked what he loved most about the railroad and what he will miss the most about the railroad, his answer was the same – running trains. Todd is not only a husband, father, grandfather, and railroader but he is also a model railroader who has a large N-Scale layout at his home. You can see a little bit of it in the photo but it spans several rooms and is impossible to capture in just one shot. In addition to having model railroading as a hobby, in his free time, he will be doing more woodworking and spending time with his granddaughter. He offered this advice for the next generation of railroaders, “railroading is a rewarding career,” he said. ‘Learn everything you can about the job and in the end, you will find it will be the best thing you have ever done.” Thank you, Todd, for the decades that you have dedicated to our railroad. You are appreciated. #RepTheBred

In Q2, #NorfolkSouthern demonstrated the strength of our balanced strategy, A Better Way, to deliver significant productivity improvements and meaningful results. We continued to make our safe railroad even safer, improve service for our customers, and began closing the gap with our peers. This progress is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our railroaders. With a solid foundation for sustainable growth, Team NS is ready to build on our momentum and deliver top-tier results for all our stakeholders. 🔗 For the full Q2 Earnings report, visit https://lnkd.in/dP_AmgJr.