NS kicks off new operating plan

Norfolk Southern Railway today announced the official launch of TOP|SPG, the Class I's latest operating plan designed to improve service, enhance productivity and create a platform for growth.

The plan builds on previous Thoroughbred Operating Plans (TOP) with goals for service, productivity and growth (SPG), NS officials said in a press release.

TOP|SPG is an evolution of the company’s TOP21 operating plan and is designed to serve the changing needs of customers and consumer demands, they added.

According to NS, the plan’s core elements build on:
• providing a platform for consistent service. NS worked with customers to ensure the plan would have a minimal impact on their operations and is designed to meet their future growth;
• making the operating plan simple, consistent and executable every day. Shipments will travel more directly across NS’s network, with one-market origin to one-market termination. Also, a balanced network flow will help ensure that shipments are less likely to get caught at choke points and facilities keep goods moving; and
• providing a platform for growth for NS and its customers. Team members, engines, rolling stock and terminals are aligned to serve customers, while being nimble enough to handle future volume.

"Our robust hiring efforts, coupled with TOP|SPG, will enhance our overall service recovery," said NS President and CEO Alan Shaw.