Norfolk Southern acquires Chicago transload and warehouse operation

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has acquired Great Lakes Reload’s Chicago transload warehouse facility, which handles inbound loads of steel and outbound loads of agricultural and construction equipment. NS said the deal, announced on Tuesday, advances its strategy to convert so-called flexible freight to rail. Flexible freight can move via truck or rail. “Transloading solutions play […]

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Activist investor group would put Norfolk Southern back on PSR path, reduce operating ratio to 57%

CLEVELAND — An activist investor group says its proposed Norfolk Southern management team would improve the railroad’s operations, service, and profitability by jettisoning CEO Alan Shaw’s resilience strategy and adopting the low-cost Precision Scheduled Railroading operating model. In a letter to shareholders today, Ancora Holdings says its plan for NS would cut costs, focus on […]

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Norfolk Southern increases length of grain shuttle trains

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has increased the length of its grain shuttle trains to 105 cars from 85, a move that allows the railroad to handle 23% more grain in each train. “We’re unlocking capacity to handle more business for both our current and prospective customers,” Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins said in a statement. […]

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Norfolk Southern adds communications, compliance officers

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has named Betsy Talton-Buck as vice president and chief communications officer, and Angie Kolar as vice president and chief compliance officer. The appointments, announced Friday, March 15, are effective on Tuesday, April 9. Both positions report to Nabanita Nag, executive vice president, corporate affairs and chief legal officer. Talton-Buck was previously […]

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STB chairman disappointed activist investors haven’t agreed to meet regarding their plans for Norfolk Southern

WASHINGTON — Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman says he’s disappointed that executives from Ancora Holdings, the activist investor firm engaged in a proxy battle with Norfolk Southern, have yet to schedule a meeting to discuss its goals for the railroad. Ancora Holdings Group Chairman and CEO Frederick DiSanto and Ancora Alternatives President James […]

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Norfolk Southern, Florida East Coast further expand intermodal service

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern and Florida East Coast have announced further expansion of their international and domestic interline service, with logistics, marine, and energy company Crowley using the two railroads’ Florida Express service to move textile products to and from Charlotte, N.C., for garment and apparel manufacturing. “We are focused on providing reliable service and […]

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Shipper groups sound alarm over Norfolk Southern proxy fight

Associations representing railroad shippers say they’re concerned about Ancora Holdings’ proxy battle at Norfolk Southern, fearing that the activist investors will put an emphasis on boosting short-term profits at the expense of service. “Seems as if NS is making strides on improving service which, to a certain degree, means abandoning some of the Precision Scheduled […]

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