NORFOLK, Va., July 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of ongoing efforts to enhance customer service and improve operating efficiencies, Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) plans to consolidate its Central Division headquarters operations in Knoxville into three surrounding divisions.

The consolidation, effective on or about Nov. 1, will reduce the number of operating divisions on NS' system to nine from 10. Dispatching responsibilities now handled from the Central Division, which includes track primarily in Tennessee and Kentucky, will be divided among operating divisions headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Decatur, Ill., and Fort Wayne, Ind.

The move will affect a total of about 50 employees who work at the Central Division headquarters in management, dispatching, and clerical positions. Dispatchers will have the opportunity to transfer to one of the other three divisions or apply for vacancies across the system. Administrative and clerical employees will be offered opportunities to apply for vacant positions elsewhere.

Current yard and field operations on the Central Division will not be affected by the headquarters closure but will be reassigned among the other three divisions. More than 250 employees will remain in Knoxville to provide safe and reliable service to local customers and support the yard's role as a hub for through-train operations.

About Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 19,500 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial products.

http://www.norfolksouthern.com

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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation