Norfolk Southern Secures 40 Wabtec Locomotives; First Order Since 2022

Norfolk Southern secured 40 Wabtec ES44AC locomotives. This is the Class I railroad’s first new motive power order since 2022.

Norfolk Southern Secures 40 Wabtec Locomotives; First Order Since 2022
January 23, 2026 12:38 am | Last Update: March 11, 2026 4:06 am
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Wabtec Corporation will manufacture 40 ES44AC diesel-electric locomotives for Norfolk Southern. This procurement is the first order for new motive power placed by the Class I railroad since 2022. The contract specifies that delivery of the units is scheduled for the second half of 2026.

The locomotives will be equipped with next-generation control systems that enable real-time remote diagnostics and provide live operational data. Following manufacturing, the 40 units will be transported to the Norfolk Southern shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for final commissioning and integration into the active fleet.

This acquisition aligns with fleet renewal activities at other North American carriers. Canadian Pacific Kansas City is engaged in a multi-year, US$800 million program that includes the purchase of 170 Tier 4 locomotives from Wabtec and 30 Tier 4 units from Progress Rail through 2026.