Exhibit 99


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 1997


                     NS ANNOUNCES 3-FOR-1 SPLIT, APPROVES DIVIDEND


NORFOLK, VA -- The Board of Directors of Norfolk Southern Corporation
today approved a three-for-one split of the Corporations' Common Stock and
also approved payment of the regular quarterly dividend of 60 cents per
share, on a pre-split basis.

        The dividend will be payable on September 10 to stockholders of
record as of the close of business on August 1.

        The stock split is expected to be effective in early September.
Stockholders of record on the effective date will keep their certificates
which will continue to represent the number of shares each such certificate
evidences. It is anticipated that in October stockholders will be mailed
certificates evidencing ownership of two additional shares for each share
they held as of the close of business on the effective date.

        Norfolk Southern now has over 132 million shares outstanding and
after the split will have over 398 million shares outstanding.

        David R. Goode, chairman, president and chief executive officer of
Norfolk Southern, observed that "The Board's action was taken in light of
the Corporation's continuing good results, the desire to make shares of its
Common Stock more readily available to investors and NS' sound financial
position."

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Contact:  Robert Fort, Norfolk, (757) 629-2710
World Wide Web Site - http://www.nscorp.com