Norfolk Southern is taking a proactive approach to keep America’s supply chain moving despite work stoppages at East Coast ports. We are committed to minimizing disruption and providing our customers with clear guidance on how to navigate this challenging period.

Key Elements of Our Contingency Plan:

• Service Curtailment Schedule: We planned, communicated, and began implementing a curtailment schedule for services between intermodal markets and East Coast Port locations on Sept. 23.
• Alternative Westbound Services: We have multiple lanes available to redirect containers to West Coast ports, ensuring the continued movement of goods. Customers can access these alternative routes, through our extensive network and partnerships with short line railroads and western Class I railroads. Details can be found below.

Norfolk Southern Chief Operating Officer John Orr emphasized the company’s readiness, stating, "We’ve been actively preparing for a potential work stoppage at East Coast ports. Our top priority is keeping the supply chain moving. We are working with customers to leverage our network, as well as our partnerships with ocean carriers, short line railroads, and western Class I railroads, to minimize disruptions and ensure that essential goods continue to flow as efficiently as possible."

Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins added, "While we can’t always control external events, we can control how we respond. Our customers depend on us, and that’s why we’ve taken these proactive steps to ensure we remain a railroad they can count on.”

Elkins continued, “As we’ve become more productive thanks to operational efficiencies, our system has become more fluid, and we’ve built up resiliency for when things go wrong, so that, ultimately, we can deliver exceptional results in the face of uncontrollable circumstances. We would all like to see a quick resolution, and we’re prepared in the meantime.”