"From very credible sources that asked to remain anonymous ….(and rumors and info from NS and railfan friends over the last several months):
On February 1st Norfolk Southern's Virginia Division will be merged into the Pocahontas Division. The expanded Pocahontas Division headquarters will be in Roanoke along with all Division dispatching. There is also a high probability that the West Virginia Secondary, currently part of the Pocahontas Division, (former NYC-PC-Conrail from Columbus to east of Charleston,WV) will be merged into the Lake Division. A key driver in this is NS needing to reduce operating costs associated with the falling coal business that once made the Pocahontas Division overwhelmingly the greatest source of revenue for the N&W and NS. Additionally…... as a result of CP’s attempts to buy NS, NS management is working hard to lower NS's overall operating ratio from the high 60’s to the low 60’s. The expected cost savings realized by combining the Divisions will support this goal."
