Railroad Lays Off 127 Workers

The Alaska Railroad has laid off 127 employees. Railroad President Pat Gamble says this does not, by itself, solve the railroad's financial problems. Officials had earlier estimated a 20 percent cut in its workforce. It has about 700 year-round employees and hires another 100 on a seasonal basis. The railroad is dealing with declining revenues because of a drop in tourism and reduced production at the Flint Hills petroleum refinery. More than a third of the railroad's revenue comes from transporting products from the North Pole refinery.The Associated PressDownload Audio (MP3)