By Colin Kellaher

Norfolk Southern's number-two executive, John Orr, is leaving the freight railroad, which is gearing up for a $71.5 billion merger with Union Pacific.

Norfolk Southern on Monday said Orr has resigned as executive vice president and chief operating officer due to an expected diminished role with the combined company, but that he will remain employed as a special adviser until the end of the month and retire on July 1.

The Atlanta company said Brian Barr, who has been vice president and chief mechanical officer since September 2024, succeeds Orr as chief operating officer.

Norfolk Southern said the departure of Orr, who joined as chief operating officer in March 2024, qualifies as a resignation for good reason, entitling him to severance benefits.

After his retirement, Orr will continue to serve as a special adviser to Norfolk Southern's chairman, Richard Andersen, in support of the Union Pacific merger, which the companies expect to complete in mid-2027.

The Surface Transportation Board last week said it needs more information to "thoroughly evaluate" the railroads' revised application for the merger, potentially imperiling the timetable for the union that would create a transcontinental rail giant.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 01, 2026 10:34 ET (14:34 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.