Norfolk Southern hosted its annual Short Line Conference on May 14, bringing together nearly 200 representatives from its network of more than 270 short line partners.
“Throughout 2024 and into 2025, Norfolk Southern has been working with more than 40 short line partners on the Short Line Improvement Project to enhance tools and daily visibility at interchanges,” the Class I noted. “Alongside participating short lines, we have intensified our two-way communication, improved interchange planning, and eliminated growth bottlenecks. Based on the success at these locations, we’re now scaling the program to all our 260-plus short line connections. Our latest video (view below) features leaders from Norfolk Southern and key short line partners sharing how improved interchange performance is creating growth, customer confidence, and long-term success.”
In 2024, more than 40 participating short lines helped NS increase volume by 4.85% and address service issues quickly through real-time data and communication, NS said. The railroad’s approach in 2025 will focus on real-time performance data, daily interchange visibility, shared communication channels and proactive coordination—“not just on issues, but on growth opportunities.” The goal is “to unlock approximately 6,000 new carloads of growth from our annual conference breakout sessions.”
This year, NS launched the Alan Lambert Short Line of the Year Award (above), honoring a legacy of collaboration and innovation. The honor went to OmniTRAX subsidiary Alabama & Tennessee River Railway (ATN), which doubled interchange volume with NS in one year of leveraging the program.
NS Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins opened the conference “by emphasizing the interconnectedness of Class I’s and short line railroads,” NS said. “He also highlighted the emergence from our annual shareholder meeting with renewed vigor and a clear direction to forge a better way to do business with rail.”
“We are proud that our strategy and direction remain focused on continuous improvement and maximizing freight potential, said Elkins. “To our short lines: We can’t accomplish our goals without you. More than 40% of our industrial freight moves through short lines. Your partnership is critical to our ability to deliver reliable service, produce continuous product improvement, and generate smart and sustainable carload growth. I look forward to all that we can accomplish together by taking urgent action to secure new opportunities.”
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Orr followed with insights into operational priorities. “Our goal is to optimize our network and ensure we deliver consistent, reliable service to all our customers,” he said. “The short lines play a crucial role in this mission by providing critical first- and final-mile connections. We are listening and learning. As a veteran railroader, I understand the importance of aligning efforts with our commercial commitments. We are committed to operational excellence and safety in every decision we make. Orr also “acknowledged the challenges facing the industry and expressed confidence in Norfolk Southern’s ability to meet future demand,” NS noted.
Vice President of Business Development and First and Final Mile Markets Stefan Loeb “delivered an engaging session using examples of the actions Norfolk Southern is taking with its short line partners to win in the marketplace,” NS said. Loeb and the Business Development and First and Final Mile Markets team “have been working for a year to maximize efficient solutions, setting the stage for 2024 and beyond,” restructuring the division into Short Line and Field Sales, Trucking and Rail Integrated Solutions, Crown Companies, Short Line Performance, Industrial Development, Real Estate and Market Research and Forecasts , a “strategic combination” of all Norfolk Southern’s first-and final-mile offerings. “The real excitement came from the hundreds of breakouts and meetings where we collaborated on future growth and success,” said Loeb.
The 2025 conference concluded with a forward-looking discussion on the evolving landscape of the rail industry and the critical role short lines will play in the transformation. “We’re not just talking,” NS said. “During our annual short line meeting, NS and short line commercial and operations leaders broke out for a joint safety training to further align how we operate safely and consistently. These teams also worked throughout the conference to identify new opportunities to grow in 2025. When we have safety and efficiency on every line, we unlock growth in every mile—for all who depend on rail to move the weight of the world.”
2024 Short Line Conference Highlights
The 2025 conference built on the momentum established at Norfolk Southern’s 2024 short line venue. Last year, breakout and session topics ranged from the railroad’s Short Line Performance Project, which since yielded a 9% year-over-year increase in interchange volume, to the benefits of RailPulse, a telematics program created “to revolutionize the way customers visualize shipments and track their goods.” Several NS team members also presented case studies of recent transactions and updates on commodity trends and opportunities.
Norfolk Southern Assistant Vice President Strategic Planning David Lehlbach led a 2024 session on P3s (public-private partnerships), “outlining the opportunity short lines have to access key grant funding to entice increased rail traffic.” He highlighted that out of $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program funds, $720 million was awarded to short line railroads, emphasizing “significant” opportunities available to partner on submissions for federal and state programs. “Public funding is a powerful tool to enhance safety, reduce supply chain bottlenecks, and support infrastructure projects that benefit both Norfolk Southern and its short line partners,” Lehlbach noted.
