John Orr

Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President, Norfolk Southern Railway

Search every verified John Orr interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. John Orr, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Norfolk Southern, was named Railway Age’s 2026 Railroader of the Year. Orr, a fourth-generation railroader who began his career as a conductor and union leader, described the recognition as a testament to his family, his history in the railway, and the people at Norfolk Southern and across the sector. He has promoted a concept he calls "PSR 2.0," which he described as an evolution of precision scheduled railroading that creates wins across stakeholders including safety regulators, shippers, customers, and labor groups. Orr stated that safety is the foundation for everything the company does and that the "war rooms" at Norfolk Southern bring together craft employees, management, and senior executives to improve safety and performance. Orr has emphasized collaboration with partners such as ports and shipping lines, stating that the industry requires "honest hard looks" at barriers and touch points to create value along supply chains. He said Norfolk Southern is focused on operational readiness and delivering service that customers can count on, adding that the company is "trying to build a future that outcompetes the present." Orr has also stressed the importance of investing in people, creating an environment that promotes speaking up and inclusivity, and building the capabilities of supervisors. He noted that engaging with government officials helps them make better decisions to support the economy.