Norfolk Southern Advances Growth Strategy With New Short Line Partnership

Norfolk Southern Advances Growth Strategy With New Short Line Partnership

Deal expands freight access, capacity, transload connectivity in metro Atlanta

ATLANTA, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC) and Jaguar Transport Holdings, LLC are partnering to expand freight capacity, improve local service, and unlock new growth opportunities for direct rail-served and transload customers in northeast metro Atlanta. Under the innovative deal structure, Jaguar will handle local switching, operate Norfolk Southern's Doraville transload terminal, and invest in targeted infrastructure upgrades to support new freight volumes, providing faster, dedicated first- and final-mile connections for customers. 

"This deal is completely focused on freight growth, delivering increased capacity, and providing expanded local service in the important metro Atlanta market," said Stefan Loeb, Norfolk Southern vice president of business development and first- and final-mile markets. "We value Jaguar's experience in short line and transload operations as well as its proven track record of success. This opportunity continues to demonstrate that short lines and transloaders are a crucial part of Norfolk Southern's growth strategy."

Unlocking capacity through local service and transload integration

Under the arrangement, Jaguar will deliver dedicated rail and transload services that strengthen first- and final-mile connectivity. Located near I-285 and I-85, the Doraville industrial rail corridor serves a cluster of businesses in northeast Atlanta through local switching and transload access. It provides access for both rail-adjacent customers and regional shippers that depend on truck-to-rail connectivity and frequent, reliable local service.

The collaboration is expected to generate significant growth at Norfolk Southern's Doraville transload facility and among directly served customers by:

• Supporting freight growth
• Enabling new industrial and warehouse development in the corridor
• Increasing switching opportunities, transloading capacity, and interchange fluidity

Partnering with a proven growth operator

Jaguar will make capital improvements to expand yard capacity and support future growth at Doraville. The company operates multiple short line railroads and transload facilities across the U.S. and has a proven track record of generating strong volume growth after assuming local operations.

 "We're grateful for Norfolk Southern's trust as we assume operations in Doraville," said Tim Enayati, senior vice president of commercial development at Jaguar Transport. "Jaguar is committed to delivering exceptional service to our customers and being a reliable growth partner for Norfolk Southern in Atlanta." 

"From day one, our focus will be on safe and reliable service," said Dan Price, senior vice president of operations at Jaguar Transport. "We know how vital this corridor is to these customers, and we will bring discipline, responsiveness, and the focus it takes to earn their confidence and support future growth."

Building for the future network

The Doraville agreement reflects Norfolk Southern's broader short line strategy: using targeted partnerships to extend network reach, improve local demand-driven service when required, and unlock new growth.  

It also supports Norfolk Southern's long-term vision for a proposed end-to-end combination with Union Pacific. Jaguar is already a short line partner of Union Pacific, supporting eventual operational alignment and a scalable model for local-market growth across a transcontinental network.

About Norfolk Southern
Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and Norfolk Southern originates more automotive traffic than any other Class I Railroad. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as major ports across the Gulf Coast and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting NorfolkSouthern.com. 

About Jaguar Transport Holdings
Jaguar is a transportation and logistics company headquartered in Joplin, MO. Since 2018, Jaguar has focused on safety, team culture, service to customers, and innovation to help drive its growth. Jaguar operates thirteen short line railroads and multiple other rail served sites across the United States. For more information, please visit www.jag-transport.com.

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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation