Railway Age January 2026 Digital Edition Spotlights Railroader of the Year John Orr
A fourth-generation railroader who began his career as a craft railroader and union leader, Orr brings decades of hands-on experience to his leadership, which he defines as “intentional” or “purpose- and value-driven,” reported Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono, who in early December interviewed Orr in Atlanta. During visits at NS headquarters as well as the Inman Yard, a principal intermodal hub, they talked about Orr’s long career and the “transformational work he’s doing,” according to Vantuono.
“Since being appointed EVP and COO in 2024, Orr has led railway operations—including safety, transportation, network planning, engineering, and mechanical—with a clear focus on performance, accountability and culture,” Vantuono wrote in his profile of Orr. “His positive impact can be seen in multiple key performance metrics. These include the lowest FRA Personal Injury ratio at NS in a decade; a double-digit improvement in FRA Reportable Train Accidents; leading the rail industry in FRA Main Line Train Accident rates for 2024; and improved car-miles per day, decreased dwell, and increased velocity across the network. Orr’s ‘PSR 2.0’ approach has driven rapid and sustainable improvements in service reliability and operating efficiency. He is committed to building long-term leadership capability across the organization, championing the launch of the Thoroughbred Academy, which is helping embed a culture of safety, service and operational excellence across all levels of the railroad. By investing in people and process, he is developing the next generation of railroaders, benefitting employees, customers and rail-served communities.”
Other January 2026 issue highlights include:
- No Clear Track Ahead: The 2026 picture for passenger trains and rail transit in the U.S. and Canada “is a bit fuzzy and rather bleak for the foreseeable future,” wrote Contributing Editor David Peter Alan in Railway Age’s annual outlook feature. For Amtrak, there could be solid red signals ahead outside of the Northeast Corridor, he reported, and U.S. rail transit is heading for red signals in many places, too.
- Effectiveness of Cold Wheel-Based Brake Tests: Yi Wang, Principal Investigator II-Vehicle Track Interaction & Instrumentation at MxV Rail, discussed a recent study that sheds light on the performance of cold wheel processes, which are automated methods for assessing brake system health using wheel temperature data from braking trains.
And don’t miss these Railway Age columnists:
- Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner considered whether the National Mediation Board, National Transportation Safety Board, and Surface Transportation Board will stay independent. “Theory advocates say independent agencies are ‘a headless fourth branch of government’ not provided for by the Constitution,” he wrote. “Yet the legislation branch created them as expert guardians of legislative intent.”
- Financial Editor David Nahass reviewed key takeaways—“a mix of the unexpected and the routine”—from the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger application to the Surface Transportation Board. Will the Board be converted to a “true believer”?
- Contributing Editor Pauline Lipkewich addressed leading through uncertainty, the third part of a series. Her recommendation: “Lead yourself first.” Find out how in her column, The Rail Way™, From the Boardroom to the Ballast Line.
