Conrail CEO Brian Gorton to Retire Nov. 1, 2026
Key Takeaways
- •Brian Gorton will retire as Conrail’s president and chief operating officer on November 1, 2026.
- •He has led Conrail since 2021 after previously working at Union Pacific for more than six years.
- •Conrail is a terminal and switching railroad co-owned by Norfolk Southern and CSX.
- •Norfolk Southern said it has begun searching for Gorton’s successor.
- •The leadership change matters for shippers and rail partners that rely on Conrail’s Northeast operations.
Brian Gorton, president and chief executive of Conrail, is retiring.
The former Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) executive has led Conrail, a terminal and switching railroad co-owned by Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) and CSX (NASDAQ: CSX), since 2021. Conrail’s role in the Northeast makes its leadership changes notable for shippers and rail partners that rely on coordinated switching and terminal operations across a dense freight network.
“It has been my pleasure and honor to have served as Conrail‘s president and chief operating officer for the last six years,” Gorton wrote on LinkedIn. “It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my railroad career. Thank you to all the Conrail employees for your support and dedication during my tenure.”
Gorton’s retirement from Conrail, which is headquartered in Mount Laurel, N.J., is effective later this year, Norfolk Southern said in a statement.
“After years of outstanding leadership and dedicated service, Brian Gorton will retire as Conrail’s president and chief operating officer effective November 1, 2026,” according to the statement. “On behalf of everyone at Conrail, we extend our sincere congratulations and gratitude to Brian for his steadfast commitment to our employees, customers, and the railroad industry. His leadership has strengthened our organization, reinforced our culture of safety and operational excellence, and positioned Conrail for continued success. We wish Brian and his family all the best in his well-earned retirement.”
Before joining Conrail, Gorton worked at Union Pacific for more than six years, rising to general manager during that time.
Atlanta-based Norfolk Southern said it has begun a search for Gorton’s successor, a transition that will be watched by the two Class I railroads that jointly own Conrail and by customers that depend on continuity in service and operations.
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