Norfolk Southern Exec Named Railway Woman Amid Merger Review

Norfolk Southern’s Dianne Barnett Named Railway Woman of the Year Amidst High-Stakes Merger Review

HOLLYWOOD, FL – The League of Railway Women (LRW) has honored Dianne Barnett, Assistant Vice President of Mechanical at Norfolk Southern, as the 2025 Railway Woman of the Year. The prestigious award was presented as her company navigates the critical early stages of regulatory review for its proposed $85 billion merger with Union Pacific, a transaction that promises to reshape the North American rail landscape.

The award was officially presented to Barnett on January 10 at the 2026 NRC Annual Conference and NRC-REMSA Exhibition. In a notification letter, LRW President Lisa Tackach praised Barnett for her “safety centered leadership, unwavering dedication to workforce development and commitment to investing in the next generation,” qualities that made her the clear choice from an exceptional pool of nominees. The award celebrates female leaders who foster a culture of continuous improvement and bring excellence to their organizations and the broader rail industry.

This individual recognition arrives at a pivotal moment for Norfolk Southern. The company, along with Union Pacific, is currently awaiting a crucial procedural decision from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB). The STB is in the process of a “completeness review” of the railroads’ formal merger application. This administrative gate determines if the filing contains sufficient information to proceed to a full merits review. A finding of incompleteness could force the companies to refile, significantly delaying the procedural clock and pushing the transaction’s timeline beyond the targeted early-2027 closing date.

The proposed $85 billion merger, agreed to in July 2025, is one of the largest transactions in the industry’s history. Following the STB’s completeness determination, the board will open a more extensive review phase to examine the deal’s impacts on competition, service, safety, and the public interest. This phase will invite filings from rival carriers, rail labor unions, shippers, and other key stakeholders. Barnett’s recognized strengths in safety and workforce development align directly with core areas that will face intense scrutiny during this upcoming substantive review.

Key Takeaways

• Dianne Barnett’s leadership in safety and workforce development at Norfolk Southern has been recognized with a major industry award.
• The honor comes as Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific face a critical STB procedural review for their proposed $85 billion merger.
• The STB’s current “completeness review” is a key hurdle that will determine the timeline for the merger’s progression to a full merits evaluation.

Editor’s Analysis

While industry awards rightly celebrate individual achievement, the timing of this honor for a key Norfolk Southern executive is strategically significant. At a moment when regulators and the market are evaluating the fundamental health and operational integrity of the company ahead of a historic merger, Barnett’s award provides a powerful external validation of its leadership quality. Highlighting a senior executive for excellence in safety and personnel development offers a compelling narrative counterpoint to the inevitable concerns about service disruptions and workforce integration that accompany any large-scale rail consolidation. This recognition underscores the human capital and operational discipline that Norfolk Southern will argue it brings to the proposed combined entity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was named the 2025 Railway Woman of the Year?
Dianne Barnett, Assistant Vice President of Mechanical at Norfolk Southern Railway, was named the 2025 Railway Woman of the Year by the League of Railway Women.

What is the current status of the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger?
As of early January 2026, the proposed $85 billion merger is under a “completeness review” by the Surface Transportation Board (STB). This procedural step must be cleared before the STB begins a full review of the merger’s merits and impacts.

Why was Dianne Barnett selected for the award?
The League of Railway Women cited her “safety centered leadership, unwavering dedication to workforce development and commitment to investing in the next generation” as key reasons for her selection.