Job Cuts Hit the Rails

North Platte, Neb. -- The nation's economic slowdown has put the brakes on Union Pacific's railroad freight business, forcing layoffs across the nation and, now, in North Platte.

Chad Wilbourn is UP's general superintendent for the North Platte service area, and he delivered the news on Thursday. About 230 people will be furloughed until business improves and they can be called back to work.

In November, UP announced that it had laid off or cut hours for about 1,500 engineers and conductors since January 2007.

A Union Pacific spokesman in Omaha declined on Friday to comment specifically on any of the layoffs. ...