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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q1So+skQNDhNZ1qISUyCcfJYH3h0ksjuHiCErfVnWRDRyXt4flqqVwBWQLGpWJJX
 ysB4L9K6aapYPf4Nh6VjuQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000702165-03-000250.txt : 20030911
<SEC-HEADER>0000702165-03-000250.hdr.sgml : 20030911
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030911133459
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000702165-03-000250
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030910
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030911

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIGHT HENRY D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187179

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08339
		FILM NUMBER:		03891585

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORP
		STREET 2:		THREE COMMERCIAL PLACE
		CITY:			NORFOLK
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23510-9219
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7576292680

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000702165
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RAILROADS, LINE-HAUL OPERATING [4011]
		IRS NUMBER:				521188014
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE COMMERCIAL PL
		CITY:			NORFOLK
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23510-2191
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7576292680

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE COMMERCIAL PL
		CITY:			NORFOLK
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23510-2191
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <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>0001187179</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIGHT HENRY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THREE COMMERCIAL PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORFOLK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23510</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President - Law</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27254</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Wife, Angelica Light</value></
natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>990</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Wife, Angelica Light (IRA)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Units </value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F3"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>146.1759</value></transactio
nShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>19.155</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>146.1759</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3562.6898</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes 7,655 shares, the approximate number of whole shares of Common Stock estimated -- on the basis of the unit accounting system used by the Plan Ad
ministrator -- as of September 10, 2003, the last date on which a formal statement was available, to have been 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.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Held by wife, Angelica Light.  The inclusion of these shares in this report shall not be construed as an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of these shares.</footnote><footnote id="F3">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></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>D. M. Martin, via P.O.A. for Henry D. Light</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-
11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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