Norfolk Southern (NSC) Names Brian Barr as COO as John Orr Retires

Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC) announced on June 1, 2026, that it has promoted Brian Barr to chief operating officer, replacing John Orr who is retiring. The change is effective immediately. Barr, who most recently served as senior vice president of engineering and mechanical, will now lead the railroad’s day-to-day operations. He brings decades of experience in network planning and field operations. Orr’s retirement caps a career spanning over 30 years at the carrier, during which he oversaw a period of operational restructuring. The leadership transition comes as the railroad continues to implement precision scheduled railroading principles in an effort to boost efficiency and margins. No further organizational changes were disclosed.