NS Issues Sustainability, Safety, Operations, Community Impact Report
Written by
Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Norfolk Southern (NS) on Aug. 18 released a digital progress report on how it is building “a safer, more resilient and sustainable railroad.”
The 2025 Forging a Better Tomorrow report, covering 2024 through early 2025, showcases results that benefit customers, communities, employees, and the broader economy, according to the Class I railroad.
In addition to the Message From the Executive Team, the report includes the following sections:
- “Building a Better Planet”: Sustainability is integrated across every part of the NS business, from improving fuel efficiency to reducing emissions and transitioning to a lower-carbon freight network, the railroad reported. Guided by its Climate Transition Plan, the railroad said it has cut emissions by 16% since 2019, as it works toward a 42% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2034; shown a 3% improvement in fuel efficiency year-over-year, which it said sets annual and all-time records; has more than doubled biofuel use since 2022; and launched RailGreen™, “a first-of-its-kind emissions-reduction program helping customers reduce supply chain emissions.”
- “Driving Business Excellence and Innovation”: Among the highlights from 2024: NS customers advanced 149 industrial development projects, which represented $4.3 billion in investment for new or expanded facilities within the railroad’s network; 94 customers either began shipping with NS for the first time or established new business opportunities with the railroad; NS completed $1 billion in infrastructure improvements across its 22-state network; and NS reconnected communities after severe weather, such as completing installation of the Newport bridge (a critical component in restoring rail service in and out of Asheville) following damage from Hurricane Helene.
- “Creating a Brighter Future”: NS reported that “[p]eople are, and will always be, at the core of our strategy.” Craft railroaders represent more than 80% of its workforce. The railroad in 2024 launched the Labor Council, including leadership from all 13 of its unions, and in January 2025 started bi-monthly Safety Walkabouts, which it said are “designed to strengthen our safety culture through peer-to-peer engagement.” Since last fall, NS has come together with nine of the 13 unions to reach new, five-year collective bargaining agreements. Additionally, the railroad said it launched and refined talent development programs for early-career employees, employees preparing to take on leadership roles, and experienced mid-level managers and leaders. In 2024, NS contributed approximately $18.3 million to charitable organizations and awarded more than $6 million to 400-plus organizations through its Safety First and Thriving Communities Grant programs.
- “Advancing a Culture of Safety”: At NS safety is a “core value,” and the railroad reported that in 2024 it saw a 35% reduction in the FRA-reportable main line train accident rate and a 25% reduction in the train accident rate. Also in 2024, it provided $2.2 million-plus to support first responder organizations through its Safety First Grant program, deployed 17 new acoustic bearing detectors across its network, installed five new Digital Train Inspection Portals.
- “Fostering Responsible Leadership”: In the past year, NS has taken “meaningful steps to strengthen the structures that guide how we govern, lead and operate,” the railroad said. “From refreshing our Board and executive leadership team to enhancing enterprise risk management, ethics, and compliance, we’ve worked to build a more transparent, accountable organization that drives performance and earns stakeholder trust. We also continued to advocate for smart public policy and a balanced regulatory environment that supports safety, service, and the future of freight rail.”
- Reporting and Data: NS noted that its report was prepared in reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Universal Standards, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Rail Transportation standard, and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework. This section includes disclosures, as well as data scorecards.
“Our commitment to sustainability is about strengthening the entire network for the future,” NS Chief Sustainability Officer Josh Raglin said. “It’s embedded in how we operate, how we invest, and how we serve our customers and communities. The Forging a Better Tomorrow report shows how our railroaders are moving freight smarter, greener, and more fluidly.”
Click here for the report covering 2023 and early 2024, and here for the report covering 2022 and early 2023.
