[12] The primary business function of Norfolk Southern Corporation is the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods[13] across the Southeast, East, and Midwest United States.

Chartered in 1827, the South Carolina Canal & Rail Road Company became the first to offer regularly scheduled passenger train service with the inaugural run of the Best Friend of Charleston in 1830.

Norfolk Southern was unwilling to let a CSX purchase go through, beginning a bidding war between the two competitors that was only resolved in January 1997 when an agreement was reached to split Conrail.

In November, 2003, the Surface Transportation Board approved a plan allowing Norfolk Southern to fully absorb Pennsylvania Lines LLC,[26] which was done on August 27, 2004.

[32] In early spring of 2008, the state program manager for air quality planning in Georgia, Jimmy Johnston, had been talking to NS about voluntary upgrades to reduce the company's environmental impact.

[46] In May 2023, Norfolk Southern agreed to provide up to seven paid sick days per year to employees, meeting one of the workforce demands that nearly led to a nation-wide rail strike in December 2022.

[50] Norfolk Southern Railway maintains its own railroad police force, tasked with enforcing laws and investigating incidents involving the company's property.

[51] The Norfolk Southern Police Department, based in Atlanta, operates across 22 states with special agents responsible for protecting employees, the public, company property, and freight.

[68] Residents in East Palestine affected by the Norfolk Southern train derailment have the option to join a class action lawsuit to potentially receive a portion of a $600 million settlement.

The agreement-in-principle of the class action lawsuit includes compensation for residents and businesses in East Palestine and surrounding communities for personal injuries resulting from exposure to chemicals.

[70] The U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reached a settlement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company in May 2024 to address the derailment.

Despite their property being rendered inaccessible and unusable due to contamination, the lawsuit claims that Norfolk Southern failed to undertake cleanup efforts, leaving the area unsafe.

The settlement will fund village priorities related to the derailment and acknowledges the $13.5 million Norfolk Southern has already paid for water treatment upgrades and new police and fire equipment.

It also complements Norfolk Southern's agreement to allocate $25 million towards ongoing improvements at East Palestine City Park, separate from this settlement.

[76] NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy accused the company of threatening the board and obstructing the investigation by delaying or failing to provide critical information.

[77] Homendy described Norfolk Southern's behavior as “unconscionable” and “reprehensible,” citing the company's attempt to manufacture evidence by hiring a private firm to conduct tests outside of the NTSB process.

NTSB's investigators found that Norfolk Southern gave incomplete and misleading information to the local incident commander following the derailment and chemical spill.

In 2015, Norfolk Southern introduced the Operation Awareness & Response program, which trains around 5,000 first responders annually, equipping them with the knowledge to handle rail-related emergencies effectively.

[80][81] In early 2023, Norfolk Southern rolled out a comprehensive six-point safety plan which included installing approximately 200 additional hot bearing detectors across its rail network.

The team, led by a former chief of the U.S. Navy's Nuclear Propulsion program and comprising several ex-Navy admirals, was tasked with evaluating and improving the railroad's safety protocols.

Additionally, the company failed to comply with federal regulations concerning qualified instructor designations, further undermining the effectiveness of its safety training programs.

[96] The report also highlighted communication failures within the company, particularly between dispatchers and the Advanced Train Control desk, which led to delays in responding to critical safety alarms.

Despite previous safety audits and opportunities to address these issues, the company demonstrated slow progress in rectifying critical deficiencies, leading to ongoing risks in its operations.

Shaw holds a Bachelor of Science and an MBA from Virginia Tech, and he completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.

[103] In December 2022, he introduced a new strategy for Norfolk Southern that focuses on enhancing service reliability and investing in resources like locomotives, technology, and employee training.

Bhatt, who previously served as chief information officer at Elevance Health, will focus on advancing Norfolk Southern's technological capabilities and operational efficiency.

[115] On May 15, 2008, NS announced that it would join with Pan Am Railways to create the "Patriot Corridor", an improved rail route between Albany, New York, and the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area.

NS initially used former Chesapeake and Ohio 2716, which had been modified and decorated as a Southern locomotive for the steam program; however, the engine developed mechanical problems in its firebox after less than a year in excursion service and was replaced by Nickel Plate Road 765.

[127] Norfolk Southern's management under David R. Goode was forced to end the program in late 1994, citing safety concerns, rising insurance costs, the expense of maintaining the steam locomotives and decreasing rail network availability due to a surge in freight traffic.

That same year, TVRM completed their restoration of Southern Railway 4501 – joining the 21st Century Steam program for the 2015 season and pulling excursions in Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia.