Norfolk Southern lays off 35 workers in Williamson, W.Va.

Rail traffic: the pattern continues.

Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern’s Williamson Yard, in the southwestern portion of West Virginia, right on the Kentucky border, has been hit pretty hard by layoffs during the past year.

About a month ago, the railroad said it was “repositioning” 30 Williamson workers to facilities in Bluefield, W.Va. or Roanoke. In August 2019, NS furloughed 20 employees from Williamson, and last week brought the news that 35 more were being laid off. The Williamson Daily News reports that, during the last nine months, 85 workers have been laid off from the yard.

Regarding last week’s layoffs, Norfolk Southern said “Norfolk Southern is committed to operating safely and efficiently across our system, and that includes utilizing the optimal number of people and assets based on business levels and customer demand. To that end, Norfolk Southern eliminated approximately 35 positions at Williamson Yard. Many employees may take positions at other locations based on their seniority rights. Furloughed employees may apply for open positions on the system.”

For the latest railroad news, please visit rtands.com.