No Layoffs Planned for Norfolk Southern

By Gregory Richards, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.

Feb. 24–A softening economy and reduced cargo shipments have caused at least two of the country’s four major railroads to lay off a small number of rail workers since the year began.

Norfolk Southern Corp., however, has no such plans for any of its roughly 30,500 employees, said Susan M. Terpay, a spokeswoman for the Norfolk-based railroad, on Friday.

Union Pacific Corp. has laid off 124 employees and put 455 more on weekend-only work mainly because of “softness” in the U.S. economy, spokeswoman Kathryn Blackwell said.

CSX Corp., Norfolk Southern’s East Coast rival, has furloughed about 300 employees, mostly because of a seasonal business slowdown, spokesman Garrick Francis said.

A Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. spokesman did not call back Friday with requested information.

— Reach Gregory Richards at (757) 446-2599 or gregory.richards@pilotonline.com.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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