Norfolk Southern

On #NationalAdoptionDay, we celebrate the incredible story of NS Engineer Robert Mclean and his husband, Steve Anderson, who opened their hearts and home to six wonderful siblings through adoption. At NS, we recognize that families come in all shapes and sizes, and we're dedicated to supporting our employees, both at work and at home. Our family planning programs, including adoption and surrogacy assistance, support all NS families on their unique journeys.

Welcome back to Connect NS, our customer newsletter! In this month’s edition, learn how: ?? Team NS is driving a new era of operational excellence, resilience, and growth ?? Your Thanksgiving traditions are delivered by our railroaders ?? We’re proactively meeting demand to strengthen America’s grain supply chain ?? Our Northern Region – spanning Massachusetts to Illinois – has significantly improved safety and operational performance

Three of our rail-served sites in Kentucky, South Carolina, and Virginia have earned national recognition through the REDI Sites Program! ?? Developed by the Site Selectors Guild, the REDI Sites Program evaluates locations based on infrastructure, workforce availability, and development potential, ensuring they are ready to attract top-tier investments and support long-term economic growth. ?? Swipe to see how each site is optimized for rail connectivity and logistical efficiency. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/daQDsYjy. NS invests in development-ready sites across our 22-state network. Our Industrial & Rail Development team is here to support your business every step of the way— from site location and development to your first shipment and beyond! Get started at https://lnkd.in/d2rmVYVH.?

For Johnny Robinson, a young rail fan and aspiring conductor, his fifth birthday was made extra special with a celebration aboard the NS Safety Train. Diagnosed with a rare condition as an infant, Johnny endured extensive medical care early in life. Now happy and healthy thanks to an experimental treatment program, he spends his days watching trains with his dad, Peter, and dreaming of becoming a railroader. When our team heard Johnny’s story, we knew we had to help make his special day unforgettable. From a tour of the NS Safety Train to sitting in the engineer’s seat—and even receiving his very own model NS train—Johnny got to live out his railroader dreams surrounded by his family and Team NS. Let’s all wish Johnny a Happy 5th birthday in the comments! ???? At NS, we take pride in bringing joy to the communities we serve and inspiring the next generation of railroaders like Johnny. Read more about Johnny’s celebration at https://bit.ly/4hNpgFX.

Congratulations to our newest Transportation Management Trainee graduates! ???? Nearly 50 talented individuals successfully completed our comprehensive Transportation Management Trainee program, which combines hands-on training, rotations within our Operations Division, and leadership development. This recent class was recognized at our headquarters and is now stepping into diverse transportation roles across our 22-state network. From mastering railroad operations to earning their Conductor certifications at the NS Training Center, they’ve built the skills, knowledge, and confidence to excel in their careers. NS is proud to invest in developing our leaders, equipping them to tackle the challenges of tomorrow and shape the future of rail. Read more at https://lnkd.in/evaPnJeV. #TeamNS #LeadershipDevelopment #RailJobs

Congratulations to Jacqueline P., our Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, for being recognized as one of Atlanta’s top Diversity and Inclusion Officers by the Atlanta Business Chronicle! Jackie leads with purpose, creating an inclusive workplace where every voice is heard and valued. Her leadership strengthens our culture, drives innovation, and inspires progress for Team NS and the communities we serve. Thank you, Jackie, for driving meaningful change and empowering us all. ?? Read more at https://lnkd.in/ebTMswyb. #TeamNS #NorfolkSouthern #DEI

RailTrends 2024 is in the books, and as it does year after year, the conference set the standard for rail industry presentations and collaboration. Norfolk Southern is a proud sponsor of RailTrends and contributed to the content with a keynote presentation from COO John F. Orr outlining our strategy with unwavering focus on safety and value creating service for our customers. I was privileged to moderate the short line panel where Justin Broyles Al Sauer Ryan Ratledge Dean Piacente and Bob Babcock outlined successful growth and partnership examples. In addition, attendees celebrated industry friends that left us way too soon and focused discussions around ways to work together to push this industry forward. Thank you to everyone at RailTrends, Progressive Railroading, and especially Anthony Hatch for making this such a valuable and enjoyable event.

Key players from across the North American rail industry— top executives, regulators, suppliers, and transportation professionals— came together this week at RailTrends 2024 to shape the future of rail! COO John F. Orr took the stage to highlight how our team is leading a new era of growth and excellence for Norfolk Southern. Here are three takeaways from his presentation: ?? EMPOWERING OUR PEOPLE TO FUEL GROWTH: By developing our teams and fostering a 'Speak Up' culture, we’re unleashing the full value of our network and delivering service that meets our customers' needs. ?? DRIVING EFFICIENCY AT KEY TERMINALS: By enhancing high-performance terminals, we’ve increased speed and efficiency at critical locations across our 22-state network. Collaborating with local leadership has been key to driving process improvements. ?? INCREASING NETWORK FLUIDITY: We’ve reduced unscheduled train stops by 18% through our targeted mechanical war rooms. By identifying and fixing root causes, we’ve improved train speed, car velocity, and overall fluidity across our network. ?? Check out a full recap of John’s presentation here: https://lnkd.in/ef5p996E #NorfolkSouthern #RailTrends2024 #RailSolutions

We’re proud to champion inclusion and growth in the rail industry! ?? Over 30 members of our team recently attended the #WomenInRail conference, where they explored topics like career advancement, mentorship, and innovations shaping the future of rail. This two-day event offered valuable opportunities to connect with industry leaders, gain fresh perspectives, and tackle key challenges facing the sector. At NS, our progress is powered by our people. We proudly support the women in our industry who are driving success in pivotal roles and setting new standards for what’s possible. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/ekGhDKPm.

Norfolk Southern is taking another significant step toward a more #sustainablefuture. Through our partnership with Alstom and support from the Federal Railroad Administration, we're launching a first-of-its-kind hybrid battery locomotive project. ? These innovative locomotives, built using Alstom's cutting-edge hybrid technology, are expected to reduce carbon emissions by 90% and deliver 30% more pulling power. This project isn’t just about cleaner, quieter locomotives; it's about leading the way toward a more sustainable and efficient rail industry. ? We are committed to delivering innovative solutions that benefit our customers, communities, and the environment. Rail is already the most sustainable mode of land transportation, and this project is a testament to our ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of what’s possible. ? This initiative is made possible through collaboration with the Steuben County IDA and Binghamton University's New Energy New York consortium. ? I'm excited for what’s ahead as we continue to deliver on our sustainability goals and set new standards for our industry!? ? Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eBpKygxb #bettertogether #sustainability #partnerships