Yannik Thomas, Vice President Intermodal and Automotive Operations, has been named to International Rail Journal’s Annual Young Leaders in Rail list for his leadership, service, and accomplishments in the rail industry. The list recognizes 15 rail executives under the age of 40 making valuable contributions to the global rail sector.

“Yannik is very deserving of this Young Leaders in Rail nomination,” said Ed Elkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Norfolk Southern. “His vision and capacity to drive transformation throughout our network is invaluable, and we are grateful for his contributions across Norfolk Southern.”

Transforming the customer experience

Thomas relies on his two decades of experience driving strategic initiatives, risk mitigation, and transformation to help oversee Norfolk Southern’s 85+ terminals and ramps. He works to ensure a top-tier customer experience through efficient network management and maximizing network capacity.

His expertise in engineering and process improvement was instrumental in 2022 when he helped establish a high-frequency rail corridor. Thomas and a cross-functional team redeveloped an operating and terminal plan to funnel all trains to and from the Northeast through Chicago's 47th Street Intermodal facility, Norfolk Southern's busiest hub.

The new plan significantly boosted service performance by over 30 percent, achieving an impressive 90 percent reliability rate. Moreover, Norfolk Southern witnessed substantial improvements in container and trailer velocity, translating to increased capacity and better asset utilization for customers in these crucial transportation lanes.

Working to develop the future of freight railroading

Thomas is passionate about securing the future of the freight rail industry and ensuring Norfolk Southern is a driving force. With the goal of growing Norfolk Southern’s intermodal shipments, Thomas and his teammates are improving the design and execution of the railway’s system to deliver a high-quality service product to its customers to unlock transformational growth.

“I believe rail is a safe, efficient, and sustainable method to transport freight,” said Thomas. “I am proud of the work Norfolk Southern is doing to enhance the service quality and capacity for our customers, and I’m honored to be recognized with this designation, which is a testament to our entire Norfolk Southern Intermodal and Automotive Operations team.”