(The Associated Press circulated the following on May 26, 2009.)
ALLIANCE, Neb. — More than 100 employees of the BNSF mechanical department in the western Nebraska city of Alliance have been furloughed because of a decrease in rail traffic.
BNSF spokesman Steve Forsberg says workers were told of the furloughs Tuesday. He says employees will be called back to work once rail traffic picks up.
Forsberg says BNSF trains have not been hauling as much coal in recent months because of decreasing demand. Many companies are cutting back on their use of electricity.
Forsberg says that even with the furloughs, BNSF still employees about 1,600 people in Alliance.