Setting the bar for locomotive reliability

By Martin Wattenbarger, Sr. Communications Manager

In 2025, Team NS led the rail industry in locomotive Fly Rate, a crucial measure of mechanical performance and operational excellence.

What Is Fly Rate?

Fly Rate represents the number of mechanical failures per locomotive in a year of operation. In other words, if you operate 100 locomotives for a year and experience 125 failures, your Fly Rate is 1.25. This metric provides a clear, standardized way to compare reliability across railroads.

Why It Matters

A lower Fly Rate means a better-maintained fleet with fewer mechanical failures, greater reliability, and improved service for our customers.

By driving down Fly Rate, Team NS is strengthening the reliability of the entire network. More dependable locomotives drive:

• Safer, more predictable operations, enabling shippers to plan with greater accuracy.
• Fewer delays and service interruptions, helping customers keep their own supply chains moving smoothly.
• Greater network fluidity, which supports faster connections, better asset utilization, and improved transit times.
• Enhanced capacity and resilience, especially during peak demand or weather-related challenges.

Team NS Performance

In 2025, the NS team set an ambitious goal: reduce Fly Rate to 1.5. Not only did we meet that target — we surpassed it, achieving an impressive rate of 1.14. This performance places NS at the forefront of the industry.

“Our disciplined approach to maintenance and reliability is paying off,” said Ryan Stege, Sr. Director Locomotive Operations and Maintenance. “Achieving a 1.14 Fly Rate is the result of our dedicated team working collaboratively across roles, focused on keeping locomotives in service and reducing mechanical failures. This commitment translates directly into faster, more dependable service for our customers and reinforces our position as an industry leader.”

An Example for Context

If we have 1,500 road locomotives in service at a 1.14 Fly Rate, that translates into fewer than five failures per day — just .3 percent of the active fleet.

The Takeaway

Achieving a 1.14 Fly Rate is proof of Team NS’ commitment to reliability, innovation, and operational excellence. By setting high standards and exceeding them, we’re delivering industry-leading performance that strengthens our network and helps to ensure safe, consistent service for our customers.

Martin Wattenbarger leads internal communications for Norfolk Southern’s Operations organization, with an emphasis on safety culture and performance, operational excellence, and employee engagement. He joined NS in 2020, bringing nearly 20 years of combined strategic communications expertise and governmental service.