Norfolk Southern – Page 32

Norfolk Southern Whistle-Stop Train Delivers Safety Training to Emergency Responders in Georgia, Carolinas and Virginia

September 9, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — A special train will travel to Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia Sept. 15-19 to provide emergency preparedness training to first responders as part of the 2008 Norfolk Southern TRANSCAER Whistle-Stop Tour. TRANSCAER (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) is a nationwide program that assists communities in preparing for and responding to a possible hazardous material transportation incident. “The Whistle-Stop Tour brings emergency preparedness training to response organizations and educates communities near major rail routes about rail equipment, chemical transportation, and the importance of planning for potential hazardous material transportation emergencies,” said Chuck Wehrmeister, Norfolk Southern’s vice president safety and environmental. The tour kicks off in

Norfolk Southern Says NTSB’s Finding on 2006 Train Accident is Erroneous

August 29, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — In a formal petition filed with the National Transportation Safety Board, Norfolk Southern Railway Company presented documentation and analysis, including new evidence, clearly establishing good cause for the NTSB to reexamine and amend its conclusion regarding the cause of an Oct. 20, 2006, derailment in New Brighton, Pa. The NTSB’s assertion that the accident was caused by an “inadequate rail inspection and maintenance program” is contrary to both the new and previously available evidence provided to the agency during its original investigation, NS said. The immediate cause of the New Brighton accident was a rail fracture that occurred when an eastbound freight train passed over the track.

Norfolk Southern Foundation Awards $2.2 Million in First Half of 2008

August 21, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Foundation — the charitable giving affiliate of Norfolk Southern Corporation — awarded grants worth nearly $2.2 million to nonprofit charitable organizations during the first half of 2008. The grants included $721,615 in employee and retiree matching gifts in support of 334 organizations. Grants other than matching gifts went to 104 organizations throughout Norfolk Southern’s operating territory. Excluding matching gifts, the Foundation contributed to various United Way campaigns and other health and human services nonprofits ($516,000), educational institutions ($301,800), cultural and arts groups ($525,750), and civic and community groups, including environmental organizations ($128,815). Of the $2.2 million, $756,100 (excluding matching gifts) went to charitable organizations in

Lowcountry Open Land Trust Announces Largest Conservation Gift in South Carolina History

August 4, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Some of the most ecologically significant land in the U.S. will be protected permanently from development through a conservation easement donated by Norfolk Southern to the Lowcountry Open Land Trust. The easement is thought to be one of the largest in the Southeast and the largest ever by a corporation in South Carolina. Norfolk Southern, through two subsidiaries, has granted an easement on 12,488 acres of its Brosnan Forest timber and wildlife preserve near Dorchester, S.C., 35 miles northwest of Charleston. The property is near the 15,000-acre Francis Beidler Forest, which is owned and operated by the National Audubon Society. Beidler Forest and the surrounding rural lands

NS: NTSB Determination Concerning 2006 Train Accident is Faulty

July 25, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Railway Co. says it strongly disagrees with the National Transportation Safety Board’s determination of probable cause contained in its Accident Report released today for the New Brighton, Pa., derailment. The NTSB found that an Oct. 20, 2006, derailment was caused by an “inadequate rail inspection and maintenance program,” and contributing to the accident was the Federal Railroad Administration’s inadequate oversight of the internal rail inspection process and its insufficient requirements for internal rail inspection. But, Norfolk Southern said its rail inspection and maintenance program complies with all applicable regulations, and even the NTSB concedes that Norfolk Southern tested more frequently than required by Federal Railroad

Norfolk Southern Reports Record Results; Net Income Increases 15 Percent

July 22, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — For the second quarter of 2008, Norfolk Southern Corp. reported record net income of $453 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, compared with $394 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, for the same period of 2007. Second-quarter railway operating revenues were a record $2.8 billion, up 16 percent compared with the second quarter of 2007. “Norfolk Southern delivered record financial results during the quarter, reporting continuing strength in our coal, agriculture, and metals markets,” said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. “Looking ahead, our franchise should continue to benefit from a broad and balanced customer base as well as from rail’s inherent advantages over other transportation modes –

Sen. Joe Bruno Announces Plans for $40 Million Rail Logistics Center in Saratoga Co., N.Y.

July 8, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. — State Senator Joe Bruno, R-Brunswick, has announced that a new intermodal and automotive rail logistics center will be constructed at the former rail yard located within the towns of Halfmoon, Mechanicville, and Stillwater. This new rail terminal will anchor the western end of Pan Am Southern’s Patriot Corridor, which will be a high-speed freight rail route between the Capitol Region and the Boston area once track and signal improvements are complete. Construction of the $40 million facility is expected to begin in the first quarter 2009 and be complete by April 2010. “As soaring energy costs have forced businesses to re-think how to transport consumer goods, the

2007: A Strong Year For Railroad Safety

June 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Last year was another strong year for safety on the nation’s railroads, with records being set in two key safety measurements while a third fell just shy of setting a record. “Over the years, the railroad industry has developed a strong safety culture,” said Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) at the annual E.H. Harriman Awards luncheon which honors railroads with the best employee safety records for the previous year. “Last year the train accident rate was the lowest in history,” he said. “So was the grade crossing accident rate. The total number of fatalities from all rail-related incidents was also

Eastman Chemical Recognizes Norfolk Southern With Innovation Award

June 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — Eastman Chemical Company has awarded Norfolk Southern Corporation its 2007 Global Logistics Supplier Innovation Award. The award recognizes Norfolk Southern for the development and implementation of a new process for delivering coal to Eastman’s Kingsport, Tenn., chemical manufacturing plant. Norfolk Southern’s creative redesign of its service plan for the plant resulted in significant improvements in delivery schedules, consistency of operations, and efficiency for both Eastman and Norfolk Southern. “Norfolk Southern’s work in improving our coal handling delivery process exemplifies the purpose of the Innovation Award,” said Terry Begley, Eastman Chemical vice president, global supply chain and quality. “We were very pleased to present Norfolk Southern with an

Norfolk Southern Names Voyack to Government Relations Post

June 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Frank Voyack has been named Norfolk Southern Corp.’s government relations director. Headquartered in Washington, Voyack will be responsible for lobbying Congress, coordinating government relations programs and policies and implementing legislative strategies. He will report to Marque I. Ledoux, assistant vice president government relations — federal. Voyack started his work on Capitol Hill in the office of Congressman Norman Sisisky of Virginia before moving to the International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers, where he spent 18 years in various legislative positions. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and Georgetown University. “Frank’s breadth of experience and knowledge of the legislative process will be of tremendous