The Surface Transportation board released statistics Tuesday showing that train crew employment on Class I  railroads sank to 56,370 in mid-May. That was a  decline of 17.99% from May 2008 and represented a loss of 2,963 positions in the transportation (train and engine) category. The decline from April to May this year was 4.14%.

Total Class railroad employment in May stood at 151,536, down 8.33% from May 2008 and 1.77% from April 2008.

Employment of executives, officials, and staff assistants in May  was up 0.11% to 10,081 from a year ago and up 0.4% from April.  Also showing an increase was the transportation (other than train and engine) category, up 4.23% to 6,929 from May 2008.

The three remaining  categories showed declines from last year: maintenance of way and structures, down 0.69% to 35,442; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 3.75% to 29,303; and professional and administrative, down 2.12%  to 13,411.