XML 96 R78.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.25.0.1

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions | 5 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
May 31, 2024 USD ($) employee | Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) investment_firm | Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Defined benefit plan's accumulated benefit obligation |  | $ 1,900 | $ 2,000 |
Unfunded pension plans projected benefit obligation |  | 273 | 300 |
Unfunded pension plans accumulated benefit obligations |  | $ 256 | 273 |
Number of investment firms | investment_firm |  | 12 |  |
Multiemployer plan, contributions by employer |  | $ 9 | 11 | $ 13
Defined contribution plan, cost |  | 25 | 25 | 22
Employee Severance |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of management employees separated from service | employee | 350 |  |  |
Level 2 |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Trust-owned life insurance fair value |  | $ 145 | $ 138 |
Minimum |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Pension plan assets target allocation for equity |  | 50.00% |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Pension plan assets target allocation for equity |  | 75.00% |  |
Debt securities |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Weighted average asset allocation, by asset category |  | 35.00% | 34.00% |
Pension Benefits |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Curtailment gain | $ 0 |  |  |
Estimated net loss for defined pension plans amortized from AOCI into net periodic cost |  | $ 22 |  |
Assumed increases in per capita cost of covered health care benefits |  | 6.50% |  |
Ultimate health care cost trend rate |  | 5.00% |  |
Pension plan assets target allocation for equity |  | 75.00% |  |
Assumed rate of return on pension plan assets |  | 8.00% |  |
Expected contribution for the next fiscal year |  | $ 21 |  |
Other Postretirement Benefits |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Defined benefit plan, increase (decrease) in future years of service for plan participants, curtailment | 10.00% |  |  |
Curtailment gain |  | 20 | $ 0 | $ 0
Defined benefit plan, future amortization of prior service cost (credit) |  | (24) |  |
Expected contribution for the next fiscal year |  | $ 30 |  |
Other Postretirement Benefits | Defined Benefit Plan, Equity Securities |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Weighted average asset allocation, by asset category |  | 65.00% | 66.00% |

X
- Definition Defined Benefit Plan, Increase (Decrease) In Future Years Of Service For Plan Participants, Percent + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nsc_DefinedBenefitPlanIncreaseDecreaseInFutureYearsOfServiceForPlanParticipantsCurtailment
Namespace Prefix: | nsc_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Defined Benefit Plan, Number Of Investment Firms + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nsc_DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfInvestmentFirms
Namespace Prefix: | nsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The fair value of trust-owned life insurance related to postretirement benefit plan assets as of the reporting period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nsc_TrustOwnedLifeInsuranceFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | nsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of actuarial present value of benefits attributed to employee service rendered, excluding assumptions about future compensation level. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (e) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Weighted average rate of return on plan assets, reflecting average rate of earnings expected on existing plan assets and expected contributions, used to determine net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-8 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (k)(3) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of cost (credit) included in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit) for fiscal year following most recent annual statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedAmortizationNextFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss for prior service cost (credit) expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit) for fiscal year following most recent annual statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCreditNextFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of contribution expected to be received by defined benefit plan from employer in next fiscal year following current fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 18 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480482/715-20-55-18 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (g) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureEmployerContributionsNextFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Assumed rate, for next fiscal year, based on annual change in cost of health care cost benefits used to measure expected cost of benefits covered by defined benefit postretirement plan. Factors include, but are not limited to, estimate of health care inflation, change in health care utilization or delivery pattern, technological advances, and change in health status of participant. Excludes factors for change in composition of plan population by age and dependency status. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (l) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedNextFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of accumulated benefit obligation for defined benefit plan with accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 17 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480482/715-20-55-17 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-3 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateAccumulatedBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of projected benefit obligation for defined benefit pension plan with accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-3 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateProjectedBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage of investment to total investment within defined benefit plan asset category. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 17 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480482/715-20-55-17 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d)(ii) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsInvestmentWithinPlanAssetCategoryPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage of target investment allocation to total plan assets. Includes, but is not limited to, percentage on weighted-average basis if more than one plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 17 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480482/715-20-55-17 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d)(i) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsTargetAllocationPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit from event reducing expected years of future service of present employees or eliminating accrual of defined benefits for some or all future services of present employees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 45 -Paragraph 3A -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480535/715-20-45-3A Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h)(7) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(7) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-6 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToCurtailments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Ultimate trend rate for health care cost for defined benefit postretirement plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (l) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanUltimateHealthCareCostTrendRate1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of cost for defined contribution plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 70 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480794/715-70-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of cost for employer contribution to multiemployer plan. Multiemployer plan includes, but is not limited to, pension plan determined to be individually significant and insignificant and other postretirement benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 80 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480547/715-80-55-8 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 80 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 35 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480606/715-80-35-1 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 80 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 11 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480576/715-80-50-11 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 80 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480576/715-80-50-9 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanEmployerContributionCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of positions eliminated during the period as a result of restructuring activities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminated
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDebtSecurityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |