Norfolk Southern Corporation’s (NYSE: NSC) latest report titled “Forging a Better Tomorrow” provides an update on the company’s first-ever Climate Transition Plan (CTP), safety improvements, and community investments. The report, which covers the period from 2023 through early 2024, highlights Norfolk Southern’s efforts to create a sustainable economic environment with benefits for communities across its 22-state network. It also demonstrates the company’s commitment to providing growth opportunities for its customers, including the elimination of 27 million highway miles daily.
“At Norfolk Southern, we are dedicated to leaving the planet better than we found it, each customer and community well-served, and each employee experience enriched,” said Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan H. Shaw. “Our investments in safety, our people, and sustainability are not only fundamental to our values but are also aligned to our strategy of driving innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth, ensuring long-term value for all stakeholders.”
Norfolk Southern is setting the standard for a cleaner rail industry with its first-ever CTP, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity 42% by 2034. Key milestones to achieve this goal include:
- Fuel Efficiency: improving locomotive fuel efficiency 13% by 2027
- Renewable Energy: increasing renewable energy usage to 30% by 2030
- Biofuels: reaching 20% consumption of low-carbon fuels by 2034
“As a leading provider of freight-rail service, Norfolk Southern takes our role in reducing global supply chain emissions and fostering a transition to a low-carbon economy very seriously,” said Norfolk Southern Chief Sustainability Officer Josh Raglin. “We’ve made tremendous achievements towards sustainability in the past year as we’ve worked further towards our goal of not only forging a better tomorrow but building a better planet for future generations as well.”
Norfolk Southern also implemented various safety enhancements across its network, with the dedication and commitment of all 20,000 Norfolk Southern railroaders prioritizing safety every day. In doing so, Norfolk Southern achieved the following:
- An approximate 38% reduction in mainline accident rate year-over-year in 2023
- Installed 187 out of a planned 259 hot bearing detector systems since announcing a Six-Point Safety Plan
- Deployed 17 new acoustic bearing detectors, significantly expanding the Norfolk Southern safety technology network
- Brought Norfolk Southern’s FRA Personal Injury Index down from 1.51 in 2020 to 1.09 in 2023, almost 14% lower than the 10-year average
- Introduced the next evolution of safety culture for employees, shifting from a compliance-oriented (“have to”) mindset to a commitment-driven (“want to”) attitude
- Became the first Class I railroad to participate in the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), a program where employees can confidentially report safety concerns
Norfolk Southern served communities within its 22-state network through community investment, economic development, and infrastructure enhancement:
- Customer Investments: $3.1B
- Jobs Created: 4,156
- Infrastructure Investments: $1B
- 60% U.S. Population Served
- 19,300 Route Miles of Rail Lines
Norfolk Southern has launched several key initiatives to ensure safe, sustainable operations, support local workforce development, and foster strong, thriving communities:
- Doubled its network-wide investments in corporate giving from 2022
- Created an industry-first Director Community Engagement position
- Formed an official Public Private Partnerships team
- Launched Safety First and Thriving Communities grant programs
Continuing to prioritize investments in its people, Norfolk Southern:
- Enhanced training for frontline operations leaders through its Ballast Line Leadership Program
- Established an industry-first formal council with labor leaders
- Operationalized companywide inclusion with an official Inclusion Leadership Council
- Became the first Class I railroad to provide every conductor and engineer with predictable, scheduled time off
To access the full report and highlights document, please visit here.
