<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000702165-03-000266
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<PERIOD>20030910
<FILING-DATE>20030911
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>REASON J PAUL
<CIK>0001184127
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
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<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08339
<FILM-NUMBER>03891921
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O AMGEN INC
<STREET2>ONE AMGEN CENTER DR
<CITY>THOUSAND OAKS
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>91320-1799
<PHONE>8054471000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
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<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>
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    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-10</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000702165</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NSC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184127</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REASON J PAUL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 LIGON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORFOLK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23510</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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