Vena: Rivals fear strength of a combined Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena says shipper associations and other railroads have whipped up some whoppers about UP’s proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern — even before their merger application has been filed with federal regulators. “It’s truly amazing that they know already what we’re putting in the merger application,” Vena quipped during […]

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First CSX train crosses Chicago’s Forest Hill Flyover, major CREATE project

Aerial view of intermodal train on rail bridge, with two diamond crossings visible at ground level

CHICAGO — One of the major pieces of Chicago’s CREATE program marked a milestone on Wednesday, Oct. 15, as the first CSX Transportation train crossed the Forest Hill Flyover on the city’s South Side. The new structure separates CSX’s main line from tracks used by Metra, the Belt Railway of Chicago, and Norfolk Southern. The […]

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Atlas O Premier Fall 2025 catalog

orange and black model engine

The Atlas O Fall 2025 Premier catalog was recently published on the manufacturer’s website. Highlights include: New locomotives GP30 The locomotive includes Proto-Sound 3.0, onboard DCC/DCS decoder, detachable snowplow, O-42 operation, and road-specific ditch lights. Available roadnames: BNSF; NKP; Indiana & Ohio; Norfolk & Western; Raritan Central. Available in 3-rail version only. Price: $729.95. New […]

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Chemical manufacturers warn the White House about UP-NS merger

WASHINGTON — The CEOs of 40 chemical manufacturers warned President Donald Trump today that the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger will reduce rail competition, drive up rates, and make their companies less competitive in global markets. “You have committed to restoring American manufacturing, strengthening domestic supply chains, and outcompeting global rivals and we … fully […]

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NS sues New York town for blocking construction of crew-change facility

Map of Norfolk Southern and CSX routes in New England

ALBANY, N.Y. — Norfolk Southern is suing Voorheesville, N.Y., which has blocked the railroad’s construction of a crew-change facility that will support the shift of its New England intermodal trains to trackage rights over CSX. In a lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court in Albany, N.Y., NS argued that Voorheesville’s stop-work order on […]

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UP and NS set date for shareholder vote on proposed transcontinental merger

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will hold Nov. 14 shareholder votes seeking investor approval of their proposed $85 billion transcontinental railroad merger. The railroads will each hold separate but simultaneous virtual shareholder meetings, with UP’s scheduled for 8 a.m. Central and NS’s scheduled for 9 a.m. Eastern on Nov. 14, the railroads said in proxy […]

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Norfolk Southern aims for higher standards

Freight train with three black and white locomotives

Second of two parts. Part one is available here. ATLANTA — In his first public remarks after being named CEO in September 2024, Mark George said he didn’t like the way that railroads have historically tolerated poor operations and service performance. George came to NS from United Technologies, the conglomerate that produced jet engines, elevators, […]

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Locomotive milestone: Norfolk Southern completes modernization No. 1,000

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern marked a major milestone last month when AC44C6M No. 4947 rolled out of the Juniata Locomotive Shop as the 1,000th unit modernized through its long-running DC-to-AC conversion program. The program, which began in 2015, completely rebuilds General Electric Dash-9 units and creates a more powerful, more fuel efficient, and more reliable […]

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Two NS crew members injured in Indiana derailment

Norfolk Southern logo

OWENSVILLE, Ind. — A Norfolk Southern engineer and conductor were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following a derailment this morning in Owensville, Ind. Responding to an inquiry from Trains.com, Norfolk Southern said in a statement that the derailment occurred about 3 a.m. today (Oct. 8, 2025) and involved a locomotive and two railcars. […]

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Norfolk Southern funds move of Central of Georgia Railway archive

ATLANTA — The Central of Georgia Railway archive is now housed alongside the Southern Railway’s historical records at the Atlanta History Center, thanks to a $500,000 donation from Norfolk Southern. The funding will support the processing and preservation of the historical records, making them fully accessible in one location for the first time, the Atlanta […]

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Norfolk Southern bounces back under CEO Mark George

Black locomotive with train with yellow locomotives in background

First of two parts ATLANTA — No matter how you look at it, Mark George had an eventful first year at the helm of Norfolk Southern — even setting aside the historic deal to create the first transcontinental railroad through a merger with Union Pacific. George was named chief executive on Sept. 11, 2024, after CEO […]

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Port of Philadelphia acquires yard site from Norfolk Southern

Aerial view of area around Port of Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — The Port of Philadelphia has acquired a 152-acre rail yard adjacent to the port from Norfolk Southern, and will activate an existing intermodal transfer facility at the site. Acquisition of the Mustin Yard property is part of development plans outlined in the port’s recently released strategic plan looking ahead to 2040. The Philadelphia […]

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