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Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 5/11/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
UP presented the city of Sacramento with a commemorative golden spike similar to a gold spike presented at the transcontinental railroad's completion nearly 150 years ago. (Left to right) Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Neil Scott, UP assistant vice president-operations, Western Region.Photo – Union Pacific Railroad

5/11/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 5/9/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad will pursue $57 million worth of infrastructure projects in Kansas this year, the Class I announced yesterday.UP's plan includes investing $43 million to maintain railroad track and $12 million to maintain bridges, according to a UP press release.Key projects planned this year include $13 million to replace 102,740 ties and install 53,137 tons of rock ballast on the rail line between Topeka and Herington; and $4.8 million to replace 33,828 ties and install 327 tons of rock ballast on the line between Junction City and Salina.UP's "targeted investments" fund projects designed to strengthen the railroad's track, increase safety and minimize delays as trains move through cities and towns, said Donna Kush, vice president-public affairs, northern region.From 2012 to 2016, UP spent more than $425 million on projects to improve transportation infrastructure in Kansas. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 5/9/2017

5/9/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 5/2/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad has received the 2016 Toyota Logistics Excellence Award in Customer Service for the ninth consecutive year and, for the first time, the Kaizen Excellence Award recognizing excellence in continuous improvement, the Class I announced yesterday.This year is the first time Toyota honored a railroad with the Kaizen award, which commends UP's use of Toyota's problem-solving process to ensure damage-free loading at the auto ramp in Benicia, Calif., according to a UP press release."We're honored to receive the inaugural Kaizen award, demonstrating our dedication to continuous improvement, efficiency and shipment quality," said Jennifer Hamann, UP's vice president and general manager-automotive. "It is also a privilege to receive Toyota's Logistics Excellence Award in Customer Service year after year, as it reflects our unwavering commitment to provide an excellent customer experience."UP ships Toyota vehicles and auto parts throughout North America. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 5/2/2017

5/2/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 4/27/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Corp. today announced first-quarter net income rose 9 percent to nearly $1.1 billion, or $1.32 per diluted share, compared with $1 billion, or $1.16 per diluted share in first-quarter 2016.The $1.32 earnings per share (EPS) was a first-quarter record, UP officials said in a press release.Revenue grew 6 percent to $5.13 billion compared with $4.83 billion in Q1 2016.The Class I's operating income rose 6 percent to $1.8 billion, while the operating ratio remained flat at 65.1 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Higher fuel prices had a negative impact on the operating ratio by about 1.3 points, UP officials said."This is a very solid start to the year, especially given the weather challenges we encountered on the western part of our network earlier in the quarter," said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Fritz."In keeping with our strategic value tracks, our engaged employees worked safely and productively under very difficult circumstances during the quarter," he said. "As a result, operations were restored quickly as we continued to focus on providing an excellent customer experience."Total volumes rose 2 percent, led by a 16 percent growth in coal traffic compared with last year, UP officials said.Volume increases in coal, agricultural products and industrial products combined to more than offset declines in chemicals and automotive. Intermodal volume remained flat in the quarter compared with a year ago, as increases in international intermodal offset declines in domestic shipments.Freight revenue during the quarter grew 6 percent, as a result of volume growth, higher fuel surcharge revenue, core pricing gains and positive mix, UP officials said. By category, coal revenue grew 25 percent; industrial products, 9 percent; agricultural products, 7 percent; intermodal, 3 percent; and chemicals, 1 percent. Automotive revenue declined 1 percent."With a solid first quarter performance behind us, we will continue to press ahead with our volume, pricing, and productivity initiatives through the remainder of the year," Fritz said. "Our six-track value strategy will keep us intensely focused on effectively leveraging volume growth, while providing our customers an excellent experience and our shareholders a solid return on investment." Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 4/27/2017

4/27/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 4/24/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad plans to spend $26.8 million on infrastructure projects in Nevada this year.The Class I's projects in the state are expected to include $22.7 million to maintain railroad track and $1.8 million to maintain bridges, according to a UP press release.Key projects planned in 2017 include:
• replacing 60,854 ties on the rail line between Elko and Winnemucca at a cost of $7.5 million;
• replacing 15,406 ties on the line between Sparks and Floriston, Calif., at a cost of $2.2 million; and
• replacing 12,190 ties on the line between Verdi and Reno at a cost of $2.1 million."Union Pacific's targeted investments fund projects that strengthen our railroad tracks, increase safety and minimize delays as trains travel through communities across Nevada," said Wes Lujan, UP's vice president of public affairs in the western region.From 2012 to 2016, UP spent more than $244 million to strengthen its infrastructure in Nevada. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 4/24/2017

4/24/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 4/18/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad has planned $79 million-worth of infrastructure projects in Louisiana this year, the Class I announced yesterday.The projects will involve $58 million-worth of track maintenance and $18 million-worth of bridge maintenance, according to a UP press release.Key projects planned for the year include a $19 million investment to replace 149,125 ties and install 76,150 tons of ballast on the rail line between Alexandria and Shreveport; and an $11 million investment to replace 90,659 ties and install 35,093 tons of ballast on the line between Alexandria and Iowa."Union Pacific's targeted investments fund projects that strengthen our railroad tracks, increase safety and minimize delays as trains travel through communities across Louisiana," said Brenda Mainwaring, UP's vice president of public affairs in the southern region.This year's planned $79 million capital expenditure in Louisiana is part of an ongoing investment strategy. From 2012 to 2016, UP spent more than $392 million strengthening Louisiana's transportation infrastructure.UP plans to spend $3.1 billion across its network in 2017. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 4/18/2017

4/18/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 4/17/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad will spend $135 million to upgrade infrastructure in Arkansas this year, the Class I announced last week.The investment includes $119 million on projects to maintain track and $7 million to maintain bridges, according to a UP press release.Key projects planned include $20 million to replace 47 miles of rail between Rison and Camden and $14 million to replace 61,005 ties and install 16,838 tons of ballast between Little Rock and Benton."Union Pacific's targeted investments fund projects that strengthen our railroad tracks, increase safety and minimize delays as trains travel through communities across Arkansas," said Brenda Mainwaring, UP's vice president – public affairs in the southern region. "Maintaining a healthy railroad is the foundation of our ability to serve customers and communities across the state."UP plans to spend $1.3 billion on capital expenditures this year. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 4/17/2017

4/17/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 4/11/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad will spend $77 million on infrastructure projects aimed at improving safety and efficiency in Oregon, the Class I announced yesterday.The railroad's investment plan for the state includes $44.7 million to maintain railroad track and $3.2 million to maintain bridges, according to a UP press release.Key projects planned for 2017 include:
• replacing 21 miles of rail on the line between Klamath Falls and Chemult, $9.3 million;
• replacing 87,978 ties on the rail line between Huntington, Ore., and Caldwell, Idaho, $12 million; and
• replacing 102,683 ties on the rail line between Oakridge and Portland, $14.3 million."Union Pacific's targeted investments fund projects that strengthen our railroad tracks, increase safety and minimize delays as trains travel through communities across Oregon," said Wes Lujan, vice president-public affairs in UP's western region. This year's $77 million capital expenditure in Oregon is part of UP's ongoing investment strategy. The railroad has spent more than $305 million between 2012 and 2016 to strengthen its infrastructure in the state.UP plans to spend $3 billion in capital expenditures across its network this year. The Class I has invested $51 billion since 2000, which contributed to a 40 percent decrease in derailments during the same time frame, company officials said. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 4/11/2017

4/11/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 4/4/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Last year, Union Pacific Railroad became the safest U.S. railroad and achieved its best annual employee safety performance in the company's 154-year history, the Class I announced yesterday.UP's safety improved 11 percent with a 0.78 reportable injury rate in 2016, compared to 0.88 in 2015. Reportable injury rates represent the number of reportable injuries submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration per 200,000 employee hours worked, according to a UP press release.It was the second consecutive year that UP was the top-performing railroad in employee safety, UP officials said."This accomplishment reflects our employees' unwavering commitment to make safety a part of everything they do and a step toward our goal of zero accidents and injuries," said Rod Doerr, UP vice president-safety and chief safety officer. "We are proud of our team and continue working to eliminate risks and create safer work environments every day." Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 4/4/2017

4/4/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 3/23/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad is consolidating management at the Pocatello, Idaho, service unit with the Portland, Ore., and Utah service units effective April 1, the Class I announced yesterday.Five management positions will be reassigned to other locations, as the railroad aligns operations to meet customer demand and marketplace shifts, UP officials said in a press release.Transportation, engineering, mechanical, maintenance and other operations will remain in place. The realignment will result in an operating structure similar to pre-2005 Idaho, company officials said.The Pocatello Depot will remain an operational structure, where UP crews will continue to carry out normal operations.Meanwhile, UP also announced yesterday that it will increase the maximum track speed limit to 49 mph from 40 mph next month on the rail line that runs parallel to Highway 60 in northwest Iowa.Beginning this week, train speeds at Sibley, Ashton, Sheldon and Hospers crossings will increase in weekly 5 mph increments until reaching the 49 mph speed limit April 1. The speed limit increase follows a tie and rail improvement project completed in October 2015. UP plans to spend $68 million on infrastructure in Iowa this year, according to a UP press release. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 3/23/2017

3/23/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad