Norfolk Southern Corp. recently appointed Brian Barr as chief operating officer, effective Monday.
“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,” Norfolk Southern CEO Mark George said. “Brian’s career has given him a front row seat to every aspect of the operation and a deep understanding of the complexities of an eastern rail network. This gives him a unique vantage point to help take us to the next level to serve our customer demands.”
Barr has more than 28 years of experience, including more than a decade leading transportation teams. He joined Norfolk Southern in 2024 as leader of the mechanical department. Since then, there have been significant improvements in safety performance. Barr previously held leadership roles at CSX and Union Pacific, and began his career at Conrail. In his new role, Barr will oversee Norfolk Southern’s railway operations including engineering and equipment maintenance, network planning and operations, safety, and transportation.
Barr succeeds Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Orr who will retire on July 1. Orr will serve as a special adviser to the chairman of the board until June 1, 2027, or the closing of the Union Pacific merger.