BLUEFIELD, W.Va. -- Norfolk Southern Corp. says it has laid off about 200 workers in the railroad's divisions based in Bluefield and Roanoke.

Robin Chapman of Norfolk Southern tells the Bluefield Daily Telegraph that decreased coal traffic led to the furloughs.

Chapman said the company has offered affected employees jobs at seven other areas in the Norfolk Southern system: Chicago, Elkhart, Ind., Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio, and Conway, Altoona and Harrisburg, Pa. Chapman said accepting one of those placements would require "permanent relocation."