By Esther Fung

Freight railroad CSX has laid off 166 workers in management positions. They make up approximately 5% of its more than 3,000 management employees.

"This decision follows a thorough evaluation of current market conditions and the company's cost structure," a company spokesman said. He added that CSX has offered severance packages and employment transition services to impacted employees.

The Jacksonville, Fla.-based railroad operator, which has operations in 23 states east of the Mississippi River, has around 23,000 employees nationwide. Most of its workers are represented by a rail union and work in the field as train conductors, locomotive engineers, maintenance and signal workers.

Last year, CSX faced challenges from an activist investor who said it should pursue a deal with another railroad or replace its chief executive officer. In September, the company replaced its former CEO Joe Hinrichs with Steve Angel.

The pressure came after Union Pacific struck a $71.5 billion deal to acquire Norfolk Southern, CSX's direct competitor, to create the first transcontinental railroad operator in the U.S.

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January 07, 2026 15:31 ET (20:31 GMT)

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