Roanoke will remain the headquarters for NS’s Virginia Division, and the railroad will continue operating a local switching yard and locomotive and car maintenance facilities at Shaffer’s Crossing, and a locomotive overhaul and rebuilding facility in its East End Shops.
The functions to be relocated include marketing, accounting, information technology, and other departments. Affected employees will have the option of relocating with their positions. “This will not involve any involuntary force reductions, and we will provide substantial relocation packages for those who choose to relocate,” said NS President James A. Squires. “Norfolk Southern has been a proud corporate citizen of Roanoke for more than 130 years, and that will not change. While our profile may be reduced, Roanoke will remain a key location in our network, and we will remain engaged in the community.”
“The action is being taken to foster departmental synergies and to make better use of the company’s real estate assets and support the company’s goal of streamlining its management workforce,” NS said. “Norfolk Southern is in the final process of evaluating which positions will be relocated to its corporate headquarters in Norfolk, Va., or its operational headquarters in Atlanta, Ga. Some regionally oriented positions will remain in Roanoke but will move to other work locations in the area.”
The Roanoke office building was built in 1992 and consists of 203,000 square feet of office space. NS said that disposition of the building will be determined at a later time.