Entity tax identification number Entity Tax Identification Number Total investments Total investments at fair value EBP, Investment, Fair Value Maximum Maximum [Member] Legal Entity [Axis] Legal Entity [Axis] Statistical Measurement [Domain] Statistical Measurement [Domain] EBP, Description of Plan [Table] EBP, Description of Plan [Table] Registered investment companies Registered Investment Company [Member] Registered Investment Company EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Table] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Table] Pretax, maximum annual compensation to total compensation, percentage EBP, Participant Contribution, Pretax, Maximum Annual Compensation to Total Compensation, Percentage EBP, Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contract [Table] EBP, Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contract [Table] Total deductions Total deductions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease Fair Value Measurements EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Text Block] EBP, Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contract [Abstract] Roth Contribution Roth Contribution [Member] Roth Contribution Investments at fair value EBP, Investment, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Fair Value Money market fund Money Market Funds [Member] Plan’s Interest EBP, Nonconsolidated, Plan Interest in Master Trust [Member] Automatic deferral rate, annual increase EBP, Participant Contribution, Automatic, Annual Increase Deferral Rate Annual increase in percentage of eligible compensation contributed for participant automatically enrolled in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) until the contribution reaches maximum threshold. Level 1 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] Involuntary cash-out limit EBP, Involuntary Cash-Out Limit EBP, Involuntary Cash-Out Limit EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Abstract] Assets EBP, Asset [Abstract] Statistical Measurement [Axis] Statistical Measurement [Axis] Additions to net assets attributed to: EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase [Abstract] EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] Payment of Benefits EBP, Payment to Participant [Policy Text Block] Total transfers EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Transfer to (from) Plan EBP, Master Trust [Line Items] EBP, Master Trust [Line Items] Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Basis of Presentation EBP, Basis of Accounting [Policy Text Block] Due from brokers for securities sold EBP, Investment Sale, Receivable EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Table] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Table] Assets transferred in from Thoroughbred Retirement Investment Plan of Norfolk Southern Corporation and Participating Subsidiary Companies EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Shares Allocated for ESOP Plan interest in Master Trust for Norfolk Southern Corporation EBP, Investment, Plan Interest in Master Trust, Fair and Contract Value Number of Shares/Units (in shares) EBP, Investment, Number of Shares EBP, Description of Plan and Accounting Change [Abstract] EBP, Receivable [Abstract] EBP, Receivable [Abstract] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Table Text Block] Retirement age EBP, Retirement Age EBP, Retirement Age Investments [Domain] Investments [Domain] EBP, Master Trust [Abstract] Use of Estimates EBP, Use of Estimate [Policy Text Block] Assets transferred out to Thoroughbred Retirement Investment Plan of Norfolk Southern Corporation and Participating Subsidiary Companies EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease from Shares Allocated for ESOP Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year) EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Text Block] Cover [Abstract] Employer contributions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Employer Contribution, Cash Minimum Minimum [Member] Investment Type [Axis] Investment Type [Axis] Interest on notes receivable from participants EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Interest Income on Note Receivable from Participant Total contributions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Contribution Employee contributions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Participant Contribution, Excluding Rollover Net appreciation in fair value of investments EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Gain (Loss) on Investment Dividends and interest EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Interest and Dividend Income on Investment EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items] EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items] Plan number EBP, Plan Number EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Line Items] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Line Items] Plan Description EBP, Description of Plan [Text Block] EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items] EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Line Items] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Line Items] Interest EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Interest Income on Investment EBP, Nonconsolidated, Master Trust and Plan Interest in Master Trust [Domain] EBP, Nonconsolidated, Master Trust and Plan Interest in Master Trust [Domain] NS stock EBP, Employer, Common Stock [Member] General loan, borrowing term EBP, Note Receivable From Participant, General Loan, Maximum Borrowing Term EBP, Note Receivable From Participant, General Loan, Maximum Borrowing Term EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Abstract] EBP, Accounting Policy [Table] EBP, Accounting Policy [Table] Total additions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase Investment income EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Income (Loss) on Investment [Abstract] Investment, Identifier [Axis] Investment, Identifier [Axis] Administrative expenses EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease from Administrative Expense Total investments at fair value EBP, Asset Held for Investment Document Information [Line Items] Document Information [Line Items] Interest in Master Trust for Norfolk Southern Corporation Common Stock EBP, Master Trust [Text Block] Matching percent maximum of member compensation percentage EBP, Employer Contribution, Participant Compensation Matched, Percentage EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Abstract] Level 2 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Contribution Type [Axis] Contribution Type [Axis] Contribution Type EBP 001 EBP 001 [Member] EBP 001 EBP, Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contract [Line Items] EBP, Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contract [Line Items] EBP, Tax Status [Table] EBP, Tax Status [Table] Net increase in net assets available for benefits Net increase in net assets available for benefits EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) Related Party Transactions EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Text Block] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Abstract] EBP, Accounting Policy, Accounting Standard Update, and Change in Accounting Principle [Abstract] Automatic deferral rate EBP, Participant Contribution, Automatic, Deferral Rate Benefits paid EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease from Payment to Participant Dividends EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Dividend Income on Investment Investments at fair value EBP, Investment, Plan Interest in Master Trust, Fair Value Total investments at fair value EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Investment, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Current Value Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Abstract] EBP, Accounting Policy [Line Items] EBP, Accounting Policy [Line Items] Due to brokers for securities purchased EBP, Liability for Investment Purchase Pretax, minimum annual compensation to total compensation, percentage EBP, Participant Contribution, Pretax, Minimum Annual Compensation to Total Compensation, Percentage EBP, Participant Contribution, Pretax, Minimum Annual Compensation to Total Compensation, Percentage EBP, Tax Status [Abstract] Net increase in plan interest in Master Trust for Norfolk Southern Corporation common EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Change in Plan Interest in Master Trust Participant loan EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Participant Loan, after Deemed Distribution Investments and Revenue Recognition EBP, Investment [Policy Text Block] EBP, Master Trust [Table] EBP, Master Trust [Table] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 [Member] Document Type Document Type Investment Program EBP, Investment [Text Block] EBP, Investment Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Participant loan interest rate EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Participant Loan, Interest Rate Common collective trusts Common Collective Trust [Member] EBP, Tax Status [Line Items] EBP, Tax Status [Line Items] Deductions from net assets attributed to: EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease [Abstract] Notes receivable from participants EBP, Note Receivable from Participant Master Trust EBP, Nonconsolidated, Master Trust [Member] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies EBP, Summary of Accounting Policy [Text Block] Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Pre-Tax Contribution Pre-Tax Contribution [Member] Pre-Tax Contribution Schedule of Master Trust Net Assets EBP, Master Trust [Table Text Block] Net increase before transfers EBP, Change In Net Asset Available For Benefit, Increase (Decrease) Before Transfers EBP, Change In Net Asset Available For Benefit, Increase (Decrease) Before Transfers Federal Income Taxes EBP, Tax Status [Text Block] Document Information [Table] Document Information [Table] Notes Receivable from Participants EBP, Note Receivable from Participant [Policy Text Block] Total investment income Net investment gain EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Income (Loss) on Investment Contribution Type [Domain] Contribution Type [Domain] Contribution Type [Domain] EBP, Nonconsolidated, Master Trust and Plan Interest in Master Trust [Axis] EBP, Nonconsolidated, Master Trust and Plan Interest in Master Trust [Axis] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Line Items] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Line Items] Net assets available for benefits Beginning of year End of year Net assets EBP, Net Asset Available for Benefit Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] Contributions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Contribution [Abstract] Matching percentage EBP, Employer Contribution, Matching Percentage EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Table] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Table] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items]