Norfolk Southern orders 40 Wabtec ES44AC locomotives

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has ordered 40 Wabtec ES44AC locomotives, its first purchase of new locomotives since 2022.

Delivery from Wabtec’s plant in Fort Worth, Texas, is expected in the second half of the year, NS said today. They will be sent to the NS locomotive shop in Chattanooga, Tenn., for final preparation for service.

NS is leveraging Tier 4 emissions credits it has earned with Wabtec to facilitate the acquisition of the new ES44AC locomotives, said Kriss Beudjekian, NS senior director, enterprise resources.

“These locomotives feature some of the latest advancements in rail technology, blending sophisticated control systems with real-time remote diagnostics to support efficient operations. Equipped with a network of advanced sensors, Norfolk Southern gains unparalleled visibility and reliability. These capabilities not only enhance operational performance but also drive progress toward long-term sustainability in freight rail,” said David “Woody” Woodman, Wabtec’s group vice president, global locomotive platforms.

For more than a decade NS has been focused on modernizing its fleet through its DC-to-AC conversion program, which rebuilds Dash 9 units into AC44C6Ms at half the cost of buying new.

“As we continue to enhance North America’s most modern fleet, the new locomotives will provide the industry’s best hauling power and reduced fuel consumption — ultimately benefiting customers and the environment,” said Ryan Stege, NS senior director of locomotive operations and maintenance.

The acquisition of the ES44ACs will allow NS to retire older locomotives in its road fleet, which currently includes 1,600 active units.

Built to Norfolk Southern’s specifications, ES44ACs will feature the latest generation of control systems, which enable real-time remote diagnostics and live operational views, NS says. This will help reduce delays by spotting potential issues before they become larger problems.

Separately, NS says it achieved an industry best locomotive reliability figure in 2025: A “fly rate” of 1.14, surpassing its goal of reducing the rate to 1.5.

The fly rate represents the number of mechanical failures per locomotive in a year of operation. So if a railroad operates 100 locomotives for a year and experiences 125 failures, the fly rate is 1.25.

Put in broader context, if the railroad has 1,500 road locomotives in service at a 1.14 fly rate, that translates into fewer than five locomotive failures per day — or 0.3% of the active fleet.

“Our disciplined approach to maintenance and reliability is paying off,” Stege said. “Achieving a 1.14 Fly Rate is the result of our dedicated team working collaboratively across roles, focused on keeping locomotives in service and reducing mechanical failures. This commitment translates directly into faster, more dependable service for our customers and reinforces our position as an industry leader.”

— Note: An earlier version of this story said the ES44ACs NS has ordered were Tier 2 locomotives, as listed on the ES44AC model page on the Wabtec website. However, NS confirms that the 40 units on order will be Tier 4 compliant. To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.