Norfolk Southern names Farrell SVP transportation

Norfolk Southern Corp. has tapped Michael Farrell to serve as senior vice president of transportation.

Based in Atlanta, Farrell will report to Michael Wheeler, executive VP and chief operating officer. Farrell's duties will include all transportation operations, division mechanical and rail terminal management functions, NS officials said in a press release.

For more than a year, Farrell has served NS in a consulting role, leading "clean sheeting" teams across the network. The process is part of NS' efforts to redesign local operations "without preconceptions," starting in terminals and local serving yards.

The goal of the process is to increase network velocity and generate efficiencies in a new operating plan that is under development. Elements of precision scheduled railroading might be incorporated into the plan, NS officials said last month.

Prior to joining NS, Farrell served as general manager operations and mechanical of the Prairie and U.S. West divisions of Canadian Pacific, as well as GM for the U.S. network operations center in Minneapolis. Previously, he served as general superintendent of CN's Chicago terminal and general superintendent of terminals in North America.

Farrell began his career in 1990 at Union Pacific Railroad.

"Mike Farrell has already demonstrated his ability to lead our efforts to pursue a faster and more efficient railroad," said Wheeler. "His extensive experience in the rail industry will bring valuable insight to the Norfolk Southern team as we develop and implement a new operating plan."