Dianne Barnett honored by the League of Railway Women

Jan 19, 2026

By Martin Wattenbarger, Sr. Communications Manager

Dianne Barnett has spent her career proving that strong leadership in rail is built on credibility in the field, disciplined execution, and a genuine investment in people. That leadership is now being recognized across the industry.

Dianne, Assistant Vice President Mechanical, has been named the League of Railway Women’s 2025 Woman of the Year, becoming the first Norfolk Southern recipient.

Why it matters:

Industry recognition: The annual award honors a woman who establishes a strong vision and a culture of continuous improvement and creativity, bringing excellence to her organization and community, all while supporting the personal and professional growth of others in the rail industry. 
A Norfolk Southern milestone: Dianne is the first NS leader to receive this award, underscoring the depth of talent within our Mechanical organization.
Leadership with impact: Her work has delivered measurable operational improvements while helping shape the next generation of rail leaders.

From the field to senior leadership:
A second-generation railroader, Dianne began her career at Norfolk Southern more than 27 years ago as a stenographer clerk in Birmingham, Ala. She later moved into operations, managing craft employees and gaining firsthand field experience that continues to shape her leadership approach today.

Dianne Barnett in the rail yard with colleagues

Now, as AVP Mechanical, she leads with a focus on safety, accountability, and transparency, emphasizing that leadership is defined as much by example as by results.

Driving safety and operational performance:

Under Dianne’s leadership, the Mechanical team has adopted a rigorous, data-driven and collaborative approach to problem-solving, including the use of “War Rooms” that focus on root-cause analysis and continuous improvement. These efforts have delivered meaningful results across the network, including:

Reduced wayside stops by more than 30% through improved operations and technology applications.
Expanded deployment of machine vision capabilities across Digital Train Inspection (DTI) portals, innovative wheel defect detection systems, and tailored algorithms to catch issues before they become larger problems.
Drove a substantial reduction in bad orders and running repairs by implementing advanced, proactive car maintenance processes.
Achieved industry-leading locomotive availability and fly rate, as well as improvements in locomotive productivity through deeper defect analysis and corrective action.
Notable improvements in reportable injuries and mechanical-caused derailments, reinforcing the team’s commitment to safety, precision and the communities they serve.

She also led modernization efforts at legacy facilities such as Sandusky Yard in Ohio and Lamberts Point Coal Terminal in Norfolk, Va., helping teams replace manual, paper-based processes with real-time digital tools that improve coordination and reduce delays.

A leader and mentor:

Beyond operational performance, Dianne is widely respected for her commitment to developing people, particularly women entering and advancing within the rail industry. She actively encourages women to pursue field experience, new roles, and leadership opportunities, and she remains closely connected to those she has mentored. Many now serve in supervisory and management positions across rail.

What they’re saying:
“Dianne’s leadership reflects the best of Norfolk Southern,” said Brian Barr, Vice President and Chief Mechanical Officer. “She combines operational discipline with a people-first mindset, and her impact is felt across our Mechanical organization. We are proud that she received this very deserving honor.”

Martin Wattenbarger leads internal communications for Norfolk Southern’s Operations organization, with an emphasis on safety culture and performance, operational excellence, and employee engagement. He joined NS in 2020, bringing nearly 20 years of combined strategic communications expertise and governmental service.