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2/6/2024
Norfolk Southern Railway's engineering team last year completed $1 billion worth of infrastructure-improvement projects throughout the railroad's 22-state network.
Crews upgraded or improved safety infrastructure, tracks, bridges and public grade crossings, NS officials said in a press release.
Improvements to safety infrastructure included the installation of 108 hot-box detectors and 17 acoustic bearing detectors; addition of 218 centralized traffic-control systems to interoperable train-control messaging towers; and construction of two digital train-inspection portals.
Track projects included work on 619 miles of rail, an 8% increase over 2022; replacement of 2.1 million ties; surfacing work on 1,745 miles of track; and the installation of 523 panel turnouts and 14 crossing diamonds.
In addition, crews replaced 40 bridges, installed 32,743 bridge ties and completed 40,398 bridge, culvert and tunnel inspections. The railroad also added 110 grade-crossing warning systems.
The NS' network spans 19,500 route miles. Each year, the company undertakes extensive planning and coordination to complete improvement projects where they are needed most, NS officials said.
"To safely deliver reliable and resilient service, our rails, bridges and structures must be maintained to the highest standards, maximizing their productive lifespan," said NS Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Paul Duncan.