NS: Boosting Safety, Honoring Predecessors, Supporting Community

Norfolk Southern (NS) reports that “collaboration, communication, and a renewed focus on efficiency” have helped drive safety and operational performance improvements across the Northern Region, from Massachusetts to Illinois. Also, the Class I railroad is adding a new Heritage locomotive to its fleet and donating $1 million to 65 nonprofits in Virginia’s Hampton Roads area.

“Since streamlining operations in August, the [Northern] Region has seen significant progress,” NS reported Oct. 25 in the Story Yard section of its website. The Transportation team, led by Joseph Murphy and Rob Sarver, “has fostered better communication between leadership and craft colleagues by breaking down silos,” which the railroad said has led to a:

• 43% reduction in injuries and 39% reduction in rule violation derailments (RVDs).
• 4% decrease in active train count, “optimizing asset movement.”
• 25% reduction in recrews, “minimizing delays and improving crew utilization.”
• 23% improvement in cars dwelling 32-plus hours, “streamlining operations and reducing bottlenecks.”
• “AAR Dwell Time” reduced by 2%, now down to 22 hours, improving train fluidity.

On the Mechanical side, leaders Dominic Fandale, Sean Kennedy, and Kevin Krull have adopted a “collaborative, safety-focused culture,” NS said. They are engaging in pre-shift discussions that encourage everyone to speak up. According to the railroad, since August, this has resulted in a:

• 75% reduction in reportable and non-reportable injuries, “with just one injury in the entire region.”
• 82% reduction in “at-fault” vehicle incidents.
• 13% decrease in shop dwell time, getting equipment back into service faster.
• 6% improvement in “AAR Recovery Rate, ensuring quicker asset redeployment.
• 50% reduction in “run-through switches.”

Engineering, led by Brent Emerson, Rick Meredith, and Joe Spadone, “has improved through cross-functional collaboration and proactive safety measures,” NS said. Interactive training and daily meetings to review potential job hazards and associated rules, it noted, have resulted in a:

• 15% improvement in overall safety performance.
• 32% reduction in track-caused derailments.
• Average train speed improvement.

“The Northern Region team under one committed leadership structure has turned their tremendous efforts into tangible results,” says Jaspreet Pannu, Northern Region General Manager. “There is a lot to be proud of, the team talked about their tremendous safety and operational results. These results are not just limited to numbers on a balance sheet but also translate into people who are returning home safely to their families. People continue to be our greatest asset at NS and I’m looking forward to the results that this committed team will continue to produce.”

Meanwhile, NS is asking its LinkedIn followers to vote on which predecessor railroad should be honored next as part of its Heritage program. The railroad has narrowed it down to four choices:

1. Tennessee, Alabama, & Georgia Railway
2. Atlantic & East Carolina Railroad
3. Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railway
4. Delaware & Hudson Railway

“We can’t wait to see which railroad you’re rooting for,” NS reported its LinkedIn post. “TeamNS is voting too, and we’ll be combining the votes to select the winner. Stay tuned for the big reveal!”

The NS Juniata Locomotive Paint Shop in Altoona, Pa., will handle the work. It recently rolled out a unit paying tribute to NS railroaders (pictured, below). Ten carmen painters completed the unit after approximately 430 hours, using 75 gallons of paint.

The shop in Altoona also restores Heritage paint schemes on NS locomotives. Lackawanna 1074 was restored most recently. It took the 10 Juniata carmen 750 hours to blast, prep, and repaint it, using more than 105 gallons of primer, color coat, and clear coat.

As part of NS’s 30th anniversary in 2012, the Class I painted 20 new locomotives in the color schemes of predecessor railroads, including Conrail 8098 and Lackawanna 1074. Each paint scheme was modified to fit contemporary locomotives while staying as true as possible to the original designs, according to NS.

NS has also donated $1 million in grant funding to 65 Hampton Roads nonprofits. “These organizations tackle vital issues such as homelessness, housing instability, workforce development, mental health, environmental restoration, and more,” it reported. The railroad in 2021 committed to contributing $5 million over five years to the Hampton Roads community. With this recent donation, it has provided a total of $3 million.  

Recipients were selected by a committee of NS railroaders who live and work in the Hampton Roads area, in partnership with the Hampton Roads Community Foundation.

“We are honored to support these incredible organizations that are making a real impact in Hampton Roads, a region that has helped shape Norfolk Southern and is home to much of our workforce,” said Kristin Wong, Director NS Foundation and Community Impact. “Alongside the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, we’re building stronger, more resilient communities.”

“Norfolk Southern’s generosity is helping nonprofits tackle critical challenges to shape a brighter future for Hampton Roads,” said Deborah M. DiCroce, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “We are so grateful for their continued support and proud to help invest in the prosperity of this great region.”

Organizations that will receive grants include:

1. Access College Foundation
2. American Red Cross of Coastal Virginia
3. An Achievable Dream
4. Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads
5. Black Girls Tennis Club
6. Boys & Girls Clubs Southeast Virginia
7. Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Inc.
8. Chrysler Museum of Art
9. Communities In Schools of Hampton Roads
10. Community Outreach Coalition
11. Cover 3 Football INC DBA Cover 3 Foundation
12. Elizabeth River Trail Foundation
13. Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia
14. ForKids, inc.
15. Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast
16. Habitat for Humanity South Hampton Roads
17. Hampton Roads Workforce Foundation
18. Hope House Foundation, Inc.
19. Horizons Hampton Roads, Inc.
20. Judeo-Christian Outreach Center, Inc.
21. LGBT Life Center
22. Louise W. Eggleston Center, Inc.
23. Lynnhaven River Now
24. Mercy Chefs Inc
25. Neighborhood
26. New Vision Youth Services, Inc.
27. Norfolk Botanical Garden, Inc.
28. Nursing CAP, Inc.
29. Oasis Commission on Social Ministry of Portsmouth/Chesapeake
30. PIN Ministry
31. Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless, Inc.
32. Quality of Life Inc.
33. REACH, Inc. (Reading Enriches All Children)
34. Samaritan House, Inc.
35. Seton Youth Shelters
36. Southeastern Virginia Areawide Model Program t/a Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia
37. St. Mary’s Home
38. Suffolk Meals on Wheels inc
39. Survivor Ventures
40. The Legacy of HOPE Foundation
41. The Norfolk Street Choir Project
42. The Union Mission
43. The Up Center
44. Tidewater Youth Services Foundation
45. Trails of Purpose
46. United Way of South Hampton Roads
47. VB Home Now
48. ViBe District Virginia Beach
49. Village Family
50. Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation
51. Virginia Arts Festival
52. Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation
53. Virginia Children’s Chorus
54. Virginia Opera Association, Inc.
55. Virginia Stage Company
56. Virginia Symphony Orchestra
57. Virginia Zoological Society
58. Walk In It Inc.
59. Wesley Community Service Center, Inc.
60. Western Tidewater Free Clinic, Inc.
61. YESUSA Transformational Cities
62. YMCA of South Hampton Roads
63. Young Investors Group
64. Youth Outreach Urban Resources and Services Ministry (YOURS)
65. YWCA South Hampton Roads