Norfolk Southern has appointed Brian Barr as its new Chief Operating Officer, marking a key leadership transition at a time when the US rail operator’s operations are under heightened regulatory and strategic scrutiny linked to the proposed Union Pacific merger.
Barr succeeds Executive Vice President and COO John Orr, who will remain in an advisory role to the board chairman through June 2027 or until the earlier completion of the proposed transcontinental merger with Union Pacific.
The appointment comes as US regulators continue to closely examine the historic consolidation plan, which would create a rail network spanning approximately 53,000 miles across 43 states. The Surface Transportation Board recently granted conditional approval of the revised merger application but requested additional information, which must be submitted by July 27.
Barr has been part of Norfolk Southern’s leadership team since 2024, where he has led the mechanical department. In his new role, he will oversee core operational functions including safety, transportation, network planning, engineering, and equipment maintenance.
“Brian is the right leader for operations, bringing a strong commitment to safety, broad railroading expertise and a proven ability to build a fast, resilient network that earns customer trust every day,” said Norfolk Southern CEO Mark George. He added that Barr’s long industry career has given him a deep understanding of the complexities of the eastern US rail network and positioned him to support the company’s next phase of development.
George also acknowledged the contribution of outgoing COO John Orr, noting that Norfolk Southern is “better today because of John’s impactful tenure.”
Barr brings nearly three decades of rail industry experience. Before joining Norfolk Southern, he held senior roles at CSX, where he worked across network planning, operations, and engineering, and at Union Pacific, where he served as Senior Vice President of Transportation. He began his career in 1998 as a craft dispatcher at Conrail.
He holds a degree in business administration from Bellevue University and has completed the Executive Leadership Forum at Harvard Executive Education.
Barr’s appointment takes effect immediately, placing him at the centre of Norfolk Southern’s operational strategy at a pivotal moment for the North American rail sector.
