The consolidation effort will relocate railroad dispatchers and other positions from NS’ Central Division offices in Knoxville, Tenn., to the Alabama Division in Birmingham, Ala.; Illinois Division in Decatur, Ill.; and the Lake Division in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The move will affect a total of about 50 employees who report to the Knoxville office in management, dispatching, and clerical positions. Train dispatchers will have the opportunity to transfer to one of the neighboring divisions or apply for vacant positions across the system. Administrative and clerical workers will be offered opportunities to apply for vacant positions elsewhere, according to the railroad.
NS’ Central Division is mainly responsible for railroad operations in Kentucky and Tennessee, including the railroad’s Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railway, or CNO&TP route. The former Southern Railway-operated route runs from Cincinnati, Ohio, south to Chattanooga, Tenn.
The division also manages other ex-Southern Railway lines including the Louisville District to Louisville, Ky., and other secondary routes and coal branches running east and northeast of Knoxville.
Norfolk Southern representatives say yard and field operations will continue unchanged despite the Central Division closure. The railroad will continue to employ more than 250 workers in Knoxville in train service and other operational roles.
It is not yet clear how the main line and secondary routes will be divided up among neighboring divisions.
See the news release online.
