How Norfolk Southern Prepares for Winter Weather

By Kasandra Jenkins, Senior Communications Manager

Each winter, Norfolk Southern (NS) takes a proactive, systemwide approach to ensure freight keeps moving safely and reliably across its 22-state network. From advanced technology to hands-on fieldwork, teams begin preparations months before temperatures fall—because harsh conditions require more than a plan; they demand coordination, precision, and a commitment to safety.

Why it matters

Winter weather isn’t just inconvenient, it can bring real operational challenges. Extreme cold tightens steel rails. Ice and snow can freeze switches. Power outages can disrupt yards and widespread winter storms can impact multiple states simultaneously. Winter readiness at NS ensures resilience, reliability, and safety.

• Supply chains stay resilient when customers need reliability most.
• Communities continue receiving essential goods, from home heating fuel to food, chemicals, and consumer products.
• Employees and operations stay safe thanks to clearly defined procedures and real-time monitoring.

How NS prepares year-round

NS begins winter planning in the summer—long before a storm forms. Operating divisions create and communicate winter safety action plans, complete with triggers and escalation steps for deteriorating conditions. Engineering, mechanical, transportation, and network operations teams coordinate closely, using lessons learned from past polar vortex events.

Safely positioning our railroaders

Transportation and Network Operations teams are strategically positioned, monitoring conditions, and ready to keep freight moving as soon as safely possible. Our approach includes:

• Monitoring real‑time weather reports to adjust resources as the storm track evolves while ensuring communications remain frequent, clear, and centralized.
• Aligning across Operations by using a unified command approach.
• Creating flexibility at terminals to manage traffic and keep the network operating.
• Staging assets across the network to enable the earliest possible snow‑clearing response.
• Positioning teams along key routes and at major terminals to address snow accumulation and weather‑related disruptions.

Winterizing infrastructure and equipment:

• Switch heaters, snow fences, and windbreaks prevent snow and ice from halting critical infrastructure.
• Drainage maintenance reduces flooding and ice accumulation after snowmelts.
• Locomotives and railcars are fully winterized, including insulated brake systems, fuel additives to prevent gelling, and cold weather equipment testing.
• Portable generators are prepositioned across the network to support operations if commercial power is lost.
  
  

Technology that sees the storm coming:

• Remote sensors track real-time rail temperature, track stress, and switch status.
• Drones inspect snow-covered or hard-to-reach areas.
• Predictive analytics, technology tools and real-time monitoring of route-specific weather forecasts help anticipate weather impacts before they occur.
• The Network Operations Center in Atlanta monitors conditions 24/7, enabling rapid adjustments to routing and dispatch.

On the ground readiness:

• When steel is cooled it contracts, which adds stress on rails. Cold-weather train length and speed restrictions help ensure safety.
  • Check out this pull-apart repair in Bellevue using controlled heat to expand the rail.

• Snow removal teams and equipment are staged in high-risk areas.
• Field teams conduct “cold patrols” to identify and repair broken rails, using wraparound joint bars or heated “fire snakes” to keep trains moving.
• Switch clearing teams work continuously to keep yard and mainline operations fluid.
• Personnel lodging and transportation plans activate when major storms affect regions like metro Atlanta.

Coordinated network response:

NS collaborates with other Class I railroads through joint dispatch centers and data sharing platforms, ensuring the broader rail network stays synchronized during major weather events.

What they’re saying

 “We build flexibility into our network and terminals throughout these events to keep the system running during challenging conditions. To minimize transportation disruptions, we’ve positioned our team and vital assets such as locomotives in key locations and paused all non‑essential rail activities. Across the network, our dedicated teams are ready to safely respond as conditions change.” - John Orr, NS Chief Operating Officer

Looking ahead

As winter storms continue to evolve—bringing unpredictable combinations of ice, snow, wind, and extreme cold—NS remains committed to safety, reliability, and innovation. With advanced technology, strong operational planning, and dedicated railroaders, Norfolk Southern stands prepared to meet whatever winter brings.

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Kasandra Jenkins assists with external communications for Norfolk Southern, focusing on community impact, awards, and media relations. Kasandra joined NS in 2025, with more than 10 years of media relations, and corporate/crisis communications experience.