Rail-Driven Growth: Norfolk Southern’s REDI Sites

Rail-Driven Growth: Norfolk Southern’s REDI Sites

By Brian Gwin, Senior Industrial Development Manager, Norfolk Southern

Across the American South, communities are unlocking new economic potential through a combination of strategic infrastructure, thoughtful investment, and one key advantage: rail access. For nearly two centuries, rail has served as the backbone of industrial growth, efficiently moving raw materials, connecting producers to national and global markets, and enabling manufacturers, distributors, and energy providers to scale with confidence.

Today, as the region experiences unprecedented growth in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and logistics, rail is once again proving to be an essential driver of competitiveness, resilience, and long-term prosperity. Norfolk Southern is a major partner in this momentum, helping regions grow stronger and more competitive through rail-driven industrial development.

One of the most impactful ways Norfolk Southern delivers on this promise is through its REDI Sites program, a national site readiness initiative launched in 2024 and administered by the Site Selectors Guild. The program brings consistency and rigor to the industrial site evaluation process, making it easier for businesses and consultants to identify locations that are truly project-ready.

In March, nine additional Norfolk Southern-served properties earned REDI designations, bringing the total number of certified sites to 11. These sites span several SEDC states, including Alabama, North Carolina, Missouri, and Virginia, and represent a strategic cross-section of the company’s broader network of more than 700 rail-served development properties across the region.

Each site in the program is assessed based on a comprehensive set of criteria – such as infrastructure capacity, entitlement status, development timeline, and ownership structure – and is awarded a designation based on readiness. The tiers provide a clear framework that helps companies accelerate decision-making, reduce risk, and invest with confidence.

REDI sites are more than just listings – they are catalysts for growth, especially for advanced manufacturers, logistics hubs, and clean energy providers seeking long-term competitive advantage. They represent a powerful alignment of infrastructure and investment readiness.

This October, Norfolk Southern anticipates announcing a new round of REDI site designations, continuing its goal to unlock high-potential properties and drive job creation and investment across the South. To learn more about Norfolk Southern’s certified REDI Sites or explore its broader portfolio of development-ready properties, visit nsites.norfolksouthern.com.