LRW recognizes NS' Barnett as Railway Woman of the Year

The League of Railway Women has named Dianne Barnett, assistant vice president of mechanical at Norfolk Southern Railway, as the 2025 Railway Woman of the Year Award winner.

The award was presented Jan. 10 at the 2026 NRC Annual Conference and NRC-REMSA Exhibition held in Hollywood, Florida.

Co-sponsored by Progressive Railroading, the Railway Woman of the Year Award honors a woman who establishes a strong vision and a culture of continuous improvement and creativity, and brings excellence to her organization and community, all while supporting the personal and professional growth of others in the rail industry. 

The LRW's Woman of the Year Advisory Committee reviewed an exceptional pool of nominations in 2025. But Barnett's "safety centered leadership, unwavering dedication to workforce development and commitment to investing in the next generation" made her the clear choice for recognition, LRW President Lisa Tackach wrote in December to notify Barnett of her award.

Over her 27-year career, Barnett has "embraced challenge, earned trust through consistency and respect, and developed a leadership philosophy centered on growth," Tackach wrote, in part.

Barnett has applied her philosophy to mentoring other women in the rail industry, many of whom now hold supervisory and management roles, Tackach noted. She added that Barnett has an unwavering commitment to safety and creating a culture where employees view safety as a "source of pride and professionalism."