Operating crews continue to return to work

Consistent year-over-year traffic increases have led railroads to call operating employees back to work in increasing numbers.
New Class I railroad employment figures released Friday by the Surface Transportation Board showed that 61,819 transportation (train and engine) employees were on the job in mid-November 2010, an increase of 9,572, or 9.52%, compared with November 2010, and an increase of 0.60% from October 2010.

Total Class I railroad employment rose to 155,942 in November 2010 from 147,097 in November 2009, a 5.4% increase, and up 0.9% from October.

There were year-over-year increases in all employment categories; executives, officials, and staff assistants, up 0.8% to 8,150; professional and administrative, up 4,18% to 13,856; maintenance of way and structures, up 4,8% to 35,171; maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.83% to 28,387; and transportation (other than train and engine), up 1.51% to 6,859.