<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000702165-03-000186
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030610
<FILING-DATE>20030612
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LIGHT HENRY D
<CIK>0001187179
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08339
<FILM-NUMBER>03741585
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORP
<STREET2>THREE COMMERCIAL PLACE
<CITY>NORFOLK
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>23510-9219
<PHONE>7576292680
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?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>0001187179</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIGHT HENRY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Sr. V.P. - Law</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-10</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>114</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>21.43</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>114</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3416</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></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 in accordance with the terms of the Corporation's Long-Term Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Reports the number of deferred stock units credited to the account of the reporting person on the basis of the market value of the Common Stock on the dividend payment date.  These deferred units ultimately will be satisfied in cash, not in shares of Common Stock.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Directly held shares from Table I are 28,153 shares of Common Stock.  This number includes (1) 7,548 shares, the approximate number of whole shares of Common Stock estimated -- on the basis of the unit accounting system used by the Plan Administrator -- as of June 10, 2003, the last date on which a formal statement was available, credited to the reporting person's account in the Norfolk Southern Corporation Thrift and Investment Plan (TIP), a trusteed 401(k) plan.  In accordance with TIP's terms applicable to all participants, acquisitions were made at various times and at various prices, and (2) 1,006 shares held by wife, Angelica Light.  The inclusion of the 1,006 shares shall not be construed as an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of these shares.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>D. M. Martin via P. O. A. for Henry D. Light</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
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</SUBMISSION>
