NORFOLK, Va., Sept. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Demonstrating a commitment to industry leadership in corporate sustainability, Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC) and GE Transportation (NYSE: GE) today are sponsoring the first Railroad Sustainability Symposium.

More than 50 U.S. and international rail industry leaders and outside experts in sustainability are attending the inaugural event to share insights into how sustainability can be incorporated into core business strategies and overall performance. The event is being held at GE's John F. Welch Learning Center in Ossining, N.Y.

Planned as an annual gathering, the symposium is designed to facilitate the exchange of ideas and best practices in sustainability. It positions Norfolk Southern and GE Transportation at the forefront of industry efforts in sustainability, the practice of mitigating the effects of railroad operations on the environment while improving business efficiencies.

"We all understand that rail transportation is the most environmentally friendly means to move freight, and that we can reduce highway congestion and greenhouse gases by doing so," said Blair Wimbush, Norfolk Southern vice president real estate and corporate sustainability officer. "Given our use of diesel fuel for locomotive power, we also understand the need to improve our fuel economy. This symposium is a great opportunity to learn how to better measure and communicate the environmental impact of rail operations in order to take our sustainability efforts to an even higher level."

"With domestic and global railroads, industry influencers, and sustainability thought leaders in attendance, this is an ideal forum to have a candid dialogue on where the industry is from a sustainability perspective, where it can be, and what it takes to get there," said Pete Lawson, ecomagination leader at GE Transportation. "It's about economic growth and competitiveness and improving the environmental footprint of not only our own operations but also of our customers' operations."

Speakers and panelists at the symposium are covering topics such as best practices in carbon, energy, and water management; ways to leverage sustainability to increase profitability, efficiency, and business value; and how to effectively communicate the sustainability message to customers, employees, and the public.

The symposium coincides with Norfolk Southern's release of its fourth annual sustainability report, which is available online at www.nssustainability.com.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.

Established more than 100 years ago, GE Transportation, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a global technology leader and supplier to the railroad, marine, drilling, mining, and wind power industries. GE Transportation provides freight and passenger locomotives, signaling and communications systems, information technology solutions, marine engines, motorized drive systems for mining trucks and drills, high-quality replacement parts, and value added services. GE Transportation is headquartered in Erie, Penn., and employs approximately 10,000 employees worldwide. For more information, visit www.getransportation.com.

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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation