NRE To Lay Off 65 Paducah Workers

A railroad equipment manufacturer in Paducah has announced plans to lay off 65 of its workers.

National Railway Equipment Company spokesman Hal Burgan says the company gave 60 days notice on Dec. 1 to 65 of its 110 employees currently working at the company's Paducah location.

Burgan says the decision to downsize comes amid a recent industry-wide downturn that has made job cuts necessary.

"We've held this off as long as we could and even longer because, you know, this is a difficult decision. We do not like doing this, but the numbers were just so low that we just didn't have any work for anybody there, or at least not at the level of staffing that's there now." Burgan said.

Burgan said employees in the engine shop will keep their jobs, and it is possible that the laid off workers could be hired back if there is enough work for them at some point in the future.

The company is the world’s largest independent supplier of locomotive servicing, new and remanufactured locomotives, locomotive leasing, field services, parts, and salvage operations.