Norfolk Southern orders Wabtec ES44AC locomotives for fleet renewal

Norfolk Southern orders Wabtec ES44AC locomotives in a 40-unit deal with the manufacturer, its first purchase of new locomotives since 2022, as reported by Trains.com.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

NS said the locomotives are expected from Wabtec’s Fort Worth, Texas, plant in the second half of the year. Once delivered, they will head to the NS locomotive shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where the railroad will complete final preparation before the units enter service.

To facilitate the acquisition, Norfolk Southern is leveraging Tier 4 emissions credits it has earned with Wabtec to support the purchase of Tier 2-compliant ES44AC locomotives, according to Progressive Railroading.

Norfolk Southern ES44AC order: technology and diagnostics

Wabtec’s group vice president for global locomotive platforms, David “Woody” Woodman, said the ES44ACs bring updated rail technology, combining advanced control systems with real-time remote diagnostics.

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A network of sensors is intended to give NS live operational views, improving visibility and reliability while supporting efficient operations and long-term sustainability in freight rail.

Fleet modernization and the DC-to-AC conversion program

For more than a decade, NS has modernized its roster through a DC-to-AC conversion program that rebuilds Dash 9 units into AC44C6Ms at about half the cost of buying new locomotives, as previously covered by Railway Supply. Ryan Stege, NS senior director of locomotive operations and maintenance, said the new ES44AC locomotives will provide the industry’s best hauling power and reduced fuel consumption, benefiting customers and the environment.

The acquisition of the ES44ACs will also allow Norfolk Southern to retire older locomotives in its road fleet, which currently includes 1,600 active units. Built to Norfolk Southern’s specifications, ES44ACs will feature the latest generation of control systems that enable real-time remote diagnostics and live operational views. NS said those tools can help reduce delays by spotting potential issues before they become larger problems.

Locomotive reliability and the 2025 fly rate

Separately, NS said it achieved an industry-best locomotive reliability figure in 2025: a “fly rate” of 1.14, surpassing its goal of reducing the rate to 1.5.

The fly rate represents the number of mechanical failures per locomotive in a year of operation. For example, if a railroad operates 100 locomotives for a year and experiences 125 failures, the fly rate is 1.25.

Put in broader context, if the railroad has 1,500 road locomotives in service at a 1.14 fly rate, that translates into fewer than five locomotive failures per day — or 0.3% of the active fleet.

“Our disciplined approach to maintenance and reliability is paying off,” Stege said. “Achieving a 1.14 Fly Rate is the result of our dedicated team working collaboratively across roles, focused on keeping locomotives in service and reducing mechanical failures. This commitment translates directly into faster, more dependable service for our customers and reinforces our position as an industry leader.”

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