CSX shutting down Avon locomotive maintenance facility

CSX Transportation has discontinued operations at the locomotive maintenance facility at its Avon rail yard, a decision that will cost a number of employees their jobs.

CSX officials said they informed the employees about the decision Friday. The  shutdown was “effective immediately.”

“This decision will result in some employees being furloughed, although the final number of employees who will be impacted is not available at this time,” the company said in a written statement.

A spokesman for the company declined to disclose how many people work on the Avon facility.

CSX said the closure is part of a companywide effort to cut costs amid a huge decline in coal-carrying revenue.

“This decision was made as part of an ongoing, comprehensive review by CSX's management team to improve the company's efficiency, safety and service to customers across its 21,000-mile network,” the company said. “No announcements have been made about any other operations at the Avon Yard.”

IBJ reported in 2012 that CSX had decided to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in upgrades to rail yards in Ohio and farther east instead of Avon, where the rail yard is running far below capacity.

The company has been slashing expenses under new CEO E. Hunter Harrison, a longtime railroad exec known for wringing out savings from operations.

CSX chopped costs by a $430 million in 2016. The railroad announced in February that it would cut nearly 1,000 management positions, or 20 percent of the management ranks, to trim costs by another $175 million annually.