<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000702165-03-000179
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030610
<FILING-DATE>20030612
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORP
<CIK>0000702165
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4011
<IRS-NUMBER>521188014
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>VA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>THREE COMMERCIAL PL
<CITY>NORFOLK
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>23510-2191
<PHONE>7576292680
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>THREE COMMERCIAL PL
<CITY>NORFOLK
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>23510-2191
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CORRELL ALSTON D
<CIK>0001090722
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2400
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>GA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1228
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08339
<FILM-NUMBER>03741525
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>133 PEACHTREE ST NE
<STREET2>51ST FL
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30303
<PHONE>4045214000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>133 PEACHTREE ST NE
<STREET2>41ST FL
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30303
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-NAME>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CORRELL A D
<DATE-CHANGED>19990715
</FORMER-NAME>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-10</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000702165</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NSC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001090722</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CORRELL ALSTON D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Units - Def. Compensation</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>27</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>21.35</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>27</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8217</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>40</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>21.43</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>40</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12233</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Deferred Stock Units are based on the market value of Common Stock and will be ultimately settled in cash.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Reports the number of deferred stock units--on the basis of the market value of the Common Stock on the dividend payment date--to have been credited to the reporting person's account in the Norfolk Southern Corporation Directors' Deferred Fee Plan.  These deferred stock units ultimately will be satisfied in cash, not in shares of Common Stock upon the reporting person's retirement or at such other time as may be elected under the terms of the Directors' Deferred Fee Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Reports the number of Deferred Stock Units, exempt under Section 16b(3), credited to the account of the reporting person as of June 10, 2003, under the terms of the Outside Directors' Deferred Stock Unit Program, on the basis of the market value of the Common Stock on the dividend payment date.  These Units ultimately will be satisfied in cash, not in shares of Common Stock.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Directly held shares from Table I are 8,000 shares of Common Stock. </footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>D. M. Martin, via P. O. A. for Alston D. Correll</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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