LINWOOD — Norfolk Southern will permanently eliminate 85 jobs at its terminal in Linwood and furlough some other workers, according to documents filed with the N.C. Department of Commerce this week.

The terminal, located one interstate exit into Davidson County, told the state in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification the Linwood site had seen a downturn in economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and, as a result, would be idled. The site includes a hump yard, which uses an artificial hill that allows gravity to propel cars through a network of tracks.

Norfolk Southern said the 85 positions include 82 that will be eliminated on Tuesday and another three on May 29.

“This action is necessary due to unforeseeable business circumstances, including an unanticipated and abrupt downturn in economic activity triggered by the global pandemic,” the company said in its notice to the Department of Commerce.

The Lexington Dispatch reported that a railroad representative said senior employees will be able to take positions at other locations and furloughed employees can do the same.

The Linwood yard was built in 1979.