Norfolk Southern launches first-in-class industrial site search engine

Rhea-AI Summary

Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) has introduced NSites, a GIS-based portal designed to assist businesses in locating rail-served industrial sites and transload facilities. This tool features over 800 verified industrial locations across a 22-state territory, along with nearly 250 transload facilities. Users can tailor searches based on criteria such as acreage and proximity to transport networks. NSites aims to streamline the site-selection process while promoting sustainable rail transportation, reducing carbon emissions by 75%. The initiative is part of Norfolk Southern's broader strategy to enhance customer service through technology.

Positive

• Launch of NSites enhances site-selection efficiency for businesses.
• Offers over 800 verified industrial locations and nearly 250 transload facilities.
• Supports sustainable transportation, reducing carbon emissions by 75%.

Negative

• None.

ATLANTA, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) has launched NSites, a GIS-based search engine to help businesses easily find rail-served industrial sites and transload facilities that meet their needs. This innovative online portal provides comprehensive information about industrial sites near Norfolk Southern's transportation infrastructure, encouraging investment and job creation.

Norfolk Southern's network connects customers to every major container port in the eastern U.S. and reaches a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base.

"We developed NSites with the user in mind, to empower current and future customers during site selection decisions," said Ed Elkins, executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "Before NSites, there was no single destination to help large manufacturers, site-selection professionals, and developers identify and compare rail-served industrial sites that offer the exact site characteristics they need."

The search tool includes more than 800 available industrial locations across the railroad's 22-state territory, all verified as rail accessible by Norfolk Southern or one of its short line partners. Additionally, users can find nearly 250 rail-to-truck transload facilities in key markets across the eastern U.S.

Similar to online residential real-estate sites that let users search for homes based on their criteria, NSites enables a customized search of properties. By using targeted filters, companies can sift through results based on acreage, location, existing warehousing, and proximity to highways, intermodal terminals, and port facilities. 

"Technology is at the heart of how we serve our customers, and NSites is one of many initiatives we're developing to build the digital railroad of the future," Elkins said.

Access to cost-effective and environmentally friendly rail transportation is an increasingly important factor in the site-selection process for manufacturing and distribution companies with multi-modal supply chains. The NSites platform enhances the transparency and efficiency of the process, providing users site-specific Norfolk Southern contacts who can answer questions and coordinate projects from initial contact to delivery of the first railcar.

"Norfolk Southern provides safe, reliable, and efficient freight transportation that is also the most sustainable option to ship goods over land. Shipping by rail instead of truck lowers carbon emissions by 75% on average," Elkins said. "Investment in sites that are rail accessible also helps to create jobs in the communities we serve."

Among its numerous innovative features, NSites offers auto generated, downloadable site brochures and site data that users can analyze offline and share with other stakeholders in the site-selection process.

For a brief demonstration of the NSites platform click here and for more information visit nsites.nscorp.com. 

About Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies, moving the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Norfolk Southern connects customers to markets and communities to economic opportunity, with safe, reliable, and cost-effective shipping solutions. The company's service area includes 22 states and the District of Columbia, every major container port in the eastern United States, and a majority of the U.S. population and manufacturing base.

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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation

FAQ

What is NSites launched by Norfolk Southern (NSC)?

NSites is a GIS-based search engine that helps businesses find rail-served industrial sites and transload facilities.

How many rail-served industrial sites does NSites feature?

NSites features over 800 verified industrial locations.

When was NSites launched by Norfolk Southern (NSC)?

NSites was launched on December 16, 2021.

What benefits does NSites offer to businesses?

NSites provides tailored searches for industrial sites, enhancing transparency and efficiency in site selection.

How does NSites contribute to sustainability in transportation?

Shipping by rail, as highlighted by NSites, lowers carbon emissions by an average of 75% compared to trucking.