CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The city of Charlotte and Norfolk Southern have reached agreement for Charlotte to acquire NS’ O-Line route north of the city for use as a commuter rail line, WSOC-TV reports. An email from City Manager Marcus Jones informed officials in Mecklenburg County of the non-binding agreement on May 15; that email was […]
Railroad: Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern short line project leads to carload volume growth
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern and 40 of its shortline connections have produced outsized growth in carload traffic this year through a program that aims to improve interchange consistency and reliability. The Short Line Performance Project, which began as a pilot with a handful of railroads last July, has seen interchange volume grow 9% since March […]
Mongeau to chair Norfolk Southern’s board of directors
ATLANTA – Former Canadian National CEO Claude Mongeau has been appointed chair of Norfolk Southern’s board of directors, the railroad announced today. The board unanimously chose Mongeau to lead the board, which has five new members — including three who were nominated by activist investor Ancora Holdings as part of its proxy battle with the […]
Norfolk Southern reaches $310 million East Palestine settlement with EPA, Justice Department
WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern reached a $310 million settlement today with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department regarding cleanup and ongoing monitoring in East Palestine, Ohio, which was the site of a disastrous hazardous materials derailment last year. The agencies said the agreement, which must be approved by a federal court, holds […]
Coal exports resuming through port of Baltimore
CSX and Norfolk Southern expect to resume normal export coal operations at the port of Baltimore in the coming days now that the 50-foot shipping channel has been reopened in the wake of the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The March 26 collapse of the bridge following a ship strike blocked marine […]
Norfolk Southern donates depot to East Palestine
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Norfolk Southern on Thursday donated its station in East Palestine to the city, following up on a pledge made last year in the wake of the February derailment and chemical release in the community. The Times Leader newspaper reports that NS CEO Alan Shaw turned over the keys to the building […]
In final tally of shareholder votes, Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw won in a landslide
ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw trounced the activist investor’s chief executive candidate during last week’s proxy contest, according to a final tally of shareholder votes the railroad released today. Shaw received the backing of 64.1% of the investors who voted for board candidates in the days leading up to Thursday’s annual shareholder meeting. […]
Shaw to Norfolk Southern employees: Now we must deliver results
ATLANTA — With a bruising proxy battle now behind it, Norfolk Southern now must deliver on the promises the railroad has made, CEO Alan Shaw said in a video message to employees today. “It was a good day for Norfolk Southern,” Shaw said of Thursday’s annual meeting of shareholders, where investors backed the railroad’s management […]
Railfan Road: Virginia’s 460
Railfan Road: Virginia’s 460 has all the elements: tracks generally within sight, a legendary grade, interesting endpoints, rail attractions along the way, and reasonable train density (including two Amtrak routes). Some unique cuisine and non-rail history along the way even make it palatable for the non-railfans in the car. The 225-mile trip between Roanoke and […]
Norfolk Southern shareholders back CEO Alan Shaw but give activist investors three board seats (updated)
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern shareholders delivered a split verdict today, sparing CEO Alan Shaw while electing three of activist investor Ancora Holdings’ insurgent director candidates and ousting its independent chair, Amy Miles. Investors sent a clear message that ends the bitter proxy fight. They backed Ancora’s desire for change but sought to give Shaw & […]
Transtar’s East Ohio Valley Railway to grow
PITTSBURGH — East Ohio Valley Railway, one of the seven railroads of Transtar LLC, will more than double its operating mileage through a long-term lease of rail lines in the Powhatan Point, Ohio, area, Transtar has announced. The East Ohio Valley, currently 12.2 miles, will add a total of 18 miles through lease from Norfolk […]
Norfolk Southern activist investor predicts a carload growth miracle: Analysis
If activist investor Ancora Holdings wins its Norfolk Southern proxy battle this week, its new management team aims to generate unprecedented growth in carload traffic over the next four years. Ancora plans to run the same playbook that CSX has used since it shifted to a Precision Scheduled Railroading operating plan in 2017. Improve your […]