NS tallies first responder safety training for 2024

ATLANTA, Ga. — Norfolk Southern has supported more than 5,500 first responders with specialized training and resources this year through its Operation & Awareness Response (OAR) program, which included hands-on events across 20 cities with the railroad’s Safety Train. The OAR program is designed to educate and train first responders on responding to rail-related incidents. […]

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NS derailment leads to Amtrak Michigan service cancellations

Norfolk Southern logo

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. — Amtrak Michigan service is dealing with cancellations today because of a Norfolk Southern derailment Sunday in northwestern Indiana. NS said in a statement that eight cars of ethanol derailed on a train traveling through Gary, Ind., at about 10:35 p.m., resulting in a spill of about 250 gallons of ethanol from […]

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Rail industry in 2024: New CSX-CPKC connection, labor agreements among key events

Several freight rail business developments did not rank among our Top 10 stories of the year — but were still important in the grand scheme of things. They include: New Southeast-Mexico corridor CSX and Canadian Pacific Kansas City on Dec. 1 began service over the former Meridian & Bigbee short line that serves as a […]

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NS names Michael Barr as vice president investor relations and treasurer

Head shot of man in suit

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has named Michael Barr as vice president investor relations and treasurer, the company announced Thursday, Dec. 19. Barr comes to NS after serving as managing director at Neuberger Berman, a $500 billion asset management firm. He has also held management roles at Shockoe Capital and Prudential Equity Group, and has worked […]

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Norfolk Southern line to Asheville, N.C., to be closed until March 2025

Aerial view of steam locomotive on mountain rail line

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Norfolk Southern estimates its former Southern Railway line from Newport, Tenn., to Asheville, N.C., and east to Grovestone, N.C., will reopen by the end of March 2025, a revision of its initial estimate. In October, shortly after the line was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene, the railroad estimated service could be restored […]

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Five mind-blowing things no longer found on passenger trains

Man getting a hair cut aboard a Union Pacific passenger train.

For many of us today, Amtrak has been the only inter-city passenger railroad. While the six Class I railroads can find passenger trains in component railroads, only the Union Pacific has a direct corporate lineage to passenger service. Long gone is the competition between railroads to provide a better passenger train experience. Also, in the […]

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Chicago event marks latest CREATE federal funding, touts program’s national significance

Group photo at rail yard

CHICAGO — If there were two messages hammered home during a press conference to celebrate the latest federal funding for the CREATE project, they were these: CREATE may be a local program, but it has national implications. And it is the textbook example of public-private partnership. The event today (Friday, Dec. 13) was to mark […]

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New company uses cameras to inform public of blocked railroad crossings

Intermodal train with black locomotives

ELKHART, Ind. — Newly installed cameras that automatically feed real-time information to a website are helping first responders and the general public know when trains are occupying grade crossings near the northern Indiana town of Goshen, Ind., near Elkhart. BlockedCrossings, a private company, recently installed eight cameras at intersections in and south of Goshen, Ind., […]

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Business car group seeks to save former N&W sleeping car

Maroon and black passenger car

CHESTERTON, Ind. — The group that has preserved a former Norfolk & Western business car is now seeking to save and restore former N&W sleeping car Hollins College. The N&W Business Car 300 Preservation Society says it is working with Norfolk Southern, the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, and the Morristown & Erie Railway to preserve […]

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Norfolk Southern names Adams as chief human resources officer

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern today named Ann A. Adams as its chief human resources officer, with responsibility for human resources and labor relations. In addition, PC Bryant has been named vice president of human resources. Adams joined Norfolk Southern in 2001 as a Manager in Human Resources. From there, she progressed through roles of increasing […]

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Virginia county owes Norfolk Southern more than $150,000 for taxation error

Norfolk Southern logo

ACCOMACK, Va. — If you’ve ever given any thought to how much a Class I railroad pays in taxes, consider this: A single county in Virginia owes Norfolk Southern more than $158,000 for a relatively small taxation error. The Eastern Shore Post reports that Accomack County, Va., will be sending NS a $158,713 refund for […]

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