<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.3.0.11</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ReportType />
  <ContextCount>48</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>191</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>14</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>4</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00090 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00100 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00200 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheetsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00210 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheetsUnauditedParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00300 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlowsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10101 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureStockBasedCompensationUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10201 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10301 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShareUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10401 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10501 - Disclosure - Stock Repurchase Program (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureStockRepurchaseProgramUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock Repurchase Program (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10601 - Disclosure - Investments (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureInvestmentsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10701 - Disclosure - Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosurePensionsAndOtherPostretirementBenefitsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10801 - Disclosure - Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureComprehensiveIncomeUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10901 - Disclosure - Fair Value (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureFairValueUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>11001 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30103 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation (Unaudited) (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureStockBasedCompensationUnauditedTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation (Unaudited) (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30303 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Unaudited) (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShareUnauditedTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Unaudited) (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30603 - Disclosure - Investments (Unaudited) (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureInvestmentsUnauditedTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments (Unaudited) (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30703 - Disclosure - Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Unaudited) (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosurePensionsAndOtherPostretirementBenefitsUnauditedTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Unaudited) (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30803 - Disclosure - Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureComprehensiveIncomeUnauditedTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30903 - Disclosure - Fair Value (Unaudited) (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureFairValueUnauditedTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value (Unaudited) (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40101 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureStockBasedCompensationUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40201 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40301 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShareUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40401 - Disclosure - Stockholders Equity (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders Equity (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40501 - Disclosure - Stock Repurchase Program (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureStockRepurchaseProgramUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock Repurchase Program (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40601 - Disclosure - Investments (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureInvestmentsUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40611 - Disclosure - Investments (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureInvestmentsUnauditedParentheticalDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40701 - Disclosure - Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosurePensionsAndOtherPostretirementBenefitsUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40801 - Disclosure - Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureComprehensiveIncomeUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40901 - Disclosure - Fair Value (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureFairValueUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41001 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nscorp.com/2020-02-20/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '40501 - Disclosure - Stock Repurchase Program (Unaudited) (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '41001 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Unaudited) (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00100 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00200 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Jun. 30, 2010'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2009'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00210 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00300 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>nsc-20110630.xml</File>
    <File>nsc-20110630.xsd</File>
    <File>nsc-20110630_cal.xml</File>
    <File>nsc-20110630_def.xml</File>
    <File>nsc-20110630_lab.xml</File>
    <File>nsc-20110630_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
