| Cover | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2023 | |
| Document Information [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | PREC14A |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Entity Registrant Name | Norfolk Southern Corporation |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000702165 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | 12 Months Ended | 20 Months Ended | 83 Months Ended | |||
| Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2023 | Apr. 30, 2022 | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure, Table | PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE TABLE AND RELATED DISCLOSURE Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment on December 31, 2019, Based On: Year Summary Compensation Table Total ($) (1) Summary Compensation Table Total ($) (2) Compensation Actually Paid to PEO 1 ($) (1)(4) Compensation Actually Paid to PEO 2 ($) (2)(4) Average Summary Compensation Total for Non- PEO NEOs ($) (3) Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO ($) (3) Norfolk Southern ($) Peer Group Total Shareholder Return ($) (5) Net Income (in millions) ($) After-Tax Return on Average Invested Capital (%) (6) (a) (b) (b) (c) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) 2023 13,418,978 4,077,950 3,478,630 1,402,195 132 148 1,827 11.4 2022 9,770,910 9,615,456 10,444,401 1,969,194 4,239,302 4,343,073 134 130 3,270 14.1 2021 14,016,942 25,072,294 4,059,729 5,783,924 159 155 3,005 12.7 2020 14,125,279 12,202,837 3,976,507 2,785,700 125 122 2,013 10.4 (1) PEO 1: Alan H. Shaw has been our Chief Executive Officer since May 1, 2022. (2) PEO 2: James A. Squires was our Chief Executive Officer from June 1, 2015, to May 1, 2022. (3) The following non-principal (4) To calculate 2023 compensation actually paid, the following amounts were deducted from and added to Summary Compensation Table total compensation: Summary Compensation Table to Compensation Actually Paid Reconciliation PEO 1 Alan H. Shaw Average of Non-PEO Components of Compensation 2023 ($) 2023 ($) Summary Compensation Table (SCT) Total 13,418,978 3,478,630 Deductions From SCT Total Stock Awards and Option Awards Value 10,000,331 2,200,920 Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings 2,171,580 582,978 Additions to SCT Total (i) Year-End Granted During the Year Remaining Unvested 3,661,626 1,021,970 Change in Value During the Year of Prior-Year Awards Remaining Unvested (1,213,133 ) (410,891 ) Change in Value During the Year of Prior-Year Awards Vesting During the Year (225,683 ) (123,238 ) Dividend Equivalent Payments Made on Unvested Awards 357,116 100,656 Current-Year Pension Service Cost 250,957 118,966 Value of Changes in Pension Plan 0 0 Compensation Actually Paid 4,077,950 1,402,195 (i) Amounts were calculated in accordance with the SEC methodology for determining compensation actually paid for each year shown. Fair values for equity awards were determined as of each measurement date using valuation methodologies and assumptions consistent with those used to estimate fair value at grant under US GAAP. The valuation assumptions used to estimate the year-end most recent estimated earnout percentage of the awards at each year end, and updated Monte Carlo simulations of relative total shareholder returns for Norfolk Southern and the relevant peer companies; and the vesting-date value of PSUs was calculated using the actual earnout percentage for the performance period. Year-end year-end (5) The peer group total shareholder return calculations are based on the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Railroad Stock Price Index. (6) After-tax non-GAAP after-tax year-end | |||||
| Company Selected Measure Name | After-tax ROAIC | |||||
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote | The following non-principal | |||||
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote | The peer group total shareholder return calculations are based on the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Railroad Stock Price Index. | |||||
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote | (4) To calculate 2023 compensation actually paid, the following amounts were deducted from and added to Summary Compensation Table total compensation: Summary Compensation Table to Compensation Actually Paid Reconciliation PEO 1 Alan H. Shaw Average of Non-PEO Components of Compensation 2023 ($) 2023 ($) Summary Compensation Table (SCT) Total 13,418,978 3,478,630 Deductions From SCT Total Stock Awards and Option Awards Value 10,000,331 2,200,920 Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings 2,171,580 582,978 Additions to SCT Total (i) Year-End Granted During the Year Remaining Unvested 3,661,626 1,021,970 Change in Value During the Year of Prior-Year Awards Remaining Unvested (1,213,133 ) (410,891 ) Change in Value During the Year of Prior-Year Awards Vesting During the Year (225,683 ) (123,238 ) Dividend Equivalent Payments Made on Unvested Awards 357,116 100,656 Current-Year Pension Service Cost 250,957 118,966 Value of Changes in Pension Plan 0 0 Compensation Actually Paid 4,077,950 1,402,195 (i) Amounts were calculated in accordance with the SEC methodology for determining compensation actually paid for each year shown. Fair values for equity awards were determined as of each measurement date using valuation methodologies and assumptions consistent with those used to estimate fair value at grant under US GAAP. The valuation assumptions used to estimate the year-end most recent estimated earnout percentage of the awards at each year end, and updated Monte Carlo simulations of relative total shareholder returns for Norfolk Southern and the relevant peer companies; and the vesting-date value of PSUs was calculated using the actual earnout percentage for the performance period. Year-end year-end | |||||
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 3,478,630 | $ 4,239,302 | $ 4,059,729 | $ 3,976,507 | ||
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 1,402,195 | 4,343,073 | 5,783,924 | 2,785,700 | ||
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote | (4) To calculate 2023 compensation actually paid, the following amounts were deducted from and added to Summary Compensation Table total compensation: Summary Compensation Table to Compensation Actually Paid Reconciliation PEO 1 Alan H. Shaw Average of Non-PEO Components of Compensation 2023 ($) 2023 ($) Summary Compensation Table (SCT) Total 13,418,978 3,478,630 Deductions From SCT Total Stock Awards and Option Awards Value 10,000,331 2,200,920 Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings 2,171,580 582,978 Additions to SCT Total (i) Year-End Granted During the Year Remaining Unvested 3,661,626 1,021,970 Change in Value During the Year of Prior-Year Awards Remaining Unvested (1,213,133 ) (410,891 ) Change in Value During the Year of Prior-Year Awards Vesting During the Year (225,683 ) (123,238 ) Dividend Equivalent Payments Made on Unvested Awards 357,116 100,656 Current-Year Pension Service Cost 250,957 118,966 Value of Changes in Pension Plan 0 0 Compensation Actually Paid 4,077,950 1,402,195 (i) Amounts were calculated in accordance with the SEC methodology for determining compensation actually paid for each year shown. Fair values for equity awards were determined as of each measurement date using valuation methodologies and assumptions consistent with those used to estimate fair value at grant under US GAAP. The valuation assumptions used to estimate the year-end most recent estimated earnout percentage of the awards at each year end, and updated Monte Carlo simulations of relative total shareholder returns for Norfolk Southern and the relevant peer companies; and the vesting-date value of PSUs was calculated using the actual earnout percentage for the performance period. Year-end year-end | |||||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return | Compensation Actually Paid Compared to TSR As shown in the chart below, compensation actually paid (“CAP”) to the PEOs and the non-PEO pro-rata | |||||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income | Compensation Actually Paid Compared to Net Income As shown in the chart below, CAP to the PEOs and other NEOs is generally, but not directly, aligned with net income. This is primarily because the majority of compensation to the named executive officers is in the form of long-term, stock-based incentives which are sensitive to changes in stock price. Compensation to our Named Executive Officers is not tied directly to net income, although annual incentive awards are partially based on operating income. | |||||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure | Compensation Actually Paid Compared to ROAIC As described in the CD&A report, three-year average ROAIC is the primary performance measure that determines the number of shares earned under our PSU awards, and 50% or more of our Named Executive Officers’ long-term incentiv after-tax one-year As shown in the chart below, Norfolk Southern’s annual after-tax P. | |||||
| Total Shareholder Return Vs Peer Group | Compensation Actually Paid Compared to TSR As shown in the chart below, compensation actually paid (“CAP”) to the PEOs and the non-PEO pro-rata | |||||
| Tabular List, Table | Most Important Performance Measures to Link Compensation Actually Paid to Company Performance The four measures listed below represent the most important performance measures we used to link compensation actually paid to our Named Executive Officers in 2023 to Company performance, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) sections titled “2023 Annual Incentives” and “Long-Term Incentive Awards.” Most Important Performance Measures After-Tax Operating Income Annual Revenue Total Shareholder Return | |||||
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 132 | 134 | 159 | 125 | ||
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 148 | 130 | 155 | 122 | ||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 1,827,000,000 | $ 3,270,000,000 | $ 3,005,000,000 | $ 2,013,000,000 | ||
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 0.114 | 0.141 | 0.127 | 0.104 | ||
| PEO Name | Alan H. Shaw | James A. Squires | ||||
| Measure:: 1 | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Name | After-Tax Return On Average Invested Capital | |||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Description | After-tax non-GAAP after-tax year-end | |||||
| Measure:: 2 | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Name | Operating Income | |||||
| Measure:: 3 | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Name | Annual Revenue | |||||
| Measure:: 4 | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Name | Total Shareholder Return | |||||
| Alan H. Shaw [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 13,418,978 | $ 9,770,910 | ||||
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | 4,077,950 | 10,444,401 | ||||
| Alan H. Shaw [Member] | Stock Awards and Option Awards Value [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 10,000,331 | |||||
| Alan H. Shaw [Member] | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 2,171,580 | |||||
| Alan H. Shaw [Member] | YearEnd Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted During the Year Remaining Unvested [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 3,661,626 | |||||
| Alan H. Shaw [Member] | During the Year of PriorYear Awards Remaining Unvested [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (1,213,133) | |||||
| Alan H. Shaw [Member] | During the Year of PriorYear Awards Vesting During the Year [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (225,683) | |||||
| Alan H. Shaw [Member] | Dividend Equivalent Payments Made on Unvested Awards [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 357,116 | |||||
| Alan H. Shaw [Member] | CurrentYear Pension Service Cost [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 250,957 | |||||
| Alan H. Shaw [Member] | Value of Changes in Pension Plan [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 0 | |||||
| James A. Squires [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | 9,615,456 | $ 14,016,942 | $ 14,125,279 | |||
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 1,969,194 | $ 25,072,294 | $ 12,202,837 | |||
| Non-PEO NEO | Stock Awards and Option Awards Value [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 2,200,920 | |||||
| Non-PEO NEO | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 582,978 | |||||
| Non-PEO NEO | YearEnd Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted During the Year Remaining Unvested [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 1,021,970 | |||||
| Non-PEO NEO | During the Year of PriorYear Awards Remaining Unvested [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (410,891) | |||||
| Non-PEO NEO | During the Year of PriorYear Awards Vesting During the Year [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (123,238) | |||||
| Non-PEO NEO | Dividend Equivalent Payments Made on Unvested Awards [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 100,656 | |||||
| Non-PEO NEO | CurrentYear Pension Service Cost [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 118,966 | |||||
| Non-PEO NEO | Value of Changes in Pension Plan [Member] | ||||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | $ 0 | |||||
