Norfolk Southern layoffs, on the record
Every job cut, severance charge and restructuring Norfolk Southern reported in its annual reports, 2023 to 2025, quoted from the filings. Headcount went from 20,700 to 19,300.
Headcount, as reported
| Annual report | Employees | As of |
|---|---|---|
| 10-K for 2023 | 20,700 | end of 2023 |
| 10-K for 2024 | 19,600 | the end of 2024 |
| 10-K for 2025 | 19,300 | the end of 2025 |
Job cuts, severance and restructuring
Our summaryInitiated voluntary and involuntary separation programs to reduce the management workforce, with about 350 management employees separated by May 2024.
Word for word“In 2024, we initiated voluntary and involuntary separation programs to reduce our management workforce.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryRecorded restructuring and other charges, including separation programs and other items.
Word for word“In 2024, we recorded $183 million in restructuring and other charges.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryDiscontinued use of Triple Crown Road Railer assets and wrote them down to net realizable value as part of restructuring charges.
Word for word“Additionally, we discontinued the use of our Triple Crown Road Railer assets, and, with a planned disposition of the entire asset class, we incurred expenses to reflect these assets at their net realizable value.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryRecorded costs related to the appointment of John Orr as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, including a payment to his former employer, within restructuring and other charges.
Word for word““Restructuring and other charges” in 2024 also includes $ 35 million of costs related to this appointment, including an agreement with his previous employer, CPKC, that resulted in a $ 25 million payment and certain commercial considerations to CPKC in exchange for a waiver of his non-compete provisions.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryRecognized a curtailment gain on the other postretirement benefit plan because future service years of participants were reduced by more than 10% after the workforce reduction.
Word for word“While the reduction in our workforce did not result in a curtailment to our pension benefit plans, a curtailment to our other postretirement benefit plan did occur as the future years of service of plan participants were reduced in excess of 10 %.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryThe company recorded restructuring charges in 2025 for restructuring certain technology functions, including severance for affected employees, and for rationalizing unfinished software development projects.
Word for word“We incurred expenses of $ 22 million and $ 183 million in 2025 and 2024, respectively.” 10-K for 2025
Our summaryThe workforce reduction in 2024 triggered a curtailment of the other postretirement benefit plan, and the company recognized a gain.
Word for word“As a result, we recognized a curtailment gain of $ 20 million in 2024 for the impacted portion of the prior service benefit previously recorded within “Accumulated other comprehensive loss.”” 10-K for 2025
Norfolk Southern has filed no restructuring notice (Form 8-K, Item 2.05) since 2016. Companies file one only for a cut they judge material, so many announced layoffs never appear as one. This page shows what the company reported to the SEC, not news reports or state layoff notices.
Read from Norfolk Southern’s annual reports (10-K for 2025, 10-K for 2024, 10-K for 2023) and the financial data it files with the SEC, as of 2026-02-09. Every quotation is word for word from the filing linked beside it; how these pages are built and checked. The full record is in its company data sheet.