Union Pacific – Page 21 – Railfanning.org

New Ultra-Low Emission UP Locomotive Arrives in California

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific’s most environmentally friendly yard locomotive is on the job at J. R. Davis Rail Yard in Roseville, Calif. The first of four next generation Genset locomotives arrived in Northern California this week and is already pushing rail cars into place throughout the Union Pacific yard. The switcher builds on Genset technology developed by Union Pacific over the past six years, and is part of the railroad’s ongoing efforts to continue reducing air emissions in cooperation with federal, state and local environmental agencies. The new Genset switcher is powered by three 667-horsepower ultra-low-emission U. S. Environmental

Rail Network Could Face Major Congestion in Coming Decades

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Congestion on the nation’s rail network is expected to increase over the next two decades and could eventually pose a major problem, members of Congress warned. Since deregulation of the freight railroad industry in 1980, Class 1 freight ton-miles have increased 93 percent, while miles of track have decreased 40 percent, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., said. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that the demand for rail freight transportation will increase 88 percent by 2035, and their studies estimate that an investment of $148 billion in infrastructure expansion will be needed over the ext 28 years to

STB Grants $30M Rate Reduction Against UP

May 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board issued a decision granting an estimated $30 million in rate reductions and reparations in the maximum railroad-rate case brought before the Board by the Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCPL) against Union Pacific Railroad. At issue in this case was KCPL’s challenge to rates charged by UP for the rail transportation of coal from Wyoming’s Powder River Basin to KCPL’s Montrose Generating Station near Ladue, Mo. The parties to this case stipulated that the maximum lawful rate should be set at 180 percent of the variable cost of providing service. In its decision,

Second Railroad Joins FRA “Close Call” Risk Reduction Pilot Program

April 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A second railroad is now participating in a major federal rail safety pilot program designed to allow employees the ability to voluntarily and anonymously report “close call” incidents that could have resulted in an accident but did not, announced Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman. “This risk-reduction program provides an indispensable opportunity to analyze ‘close-call’ events to help identify and correct potential safety problems across the industry,” said Boardman, adding that the pilot program is a key element of his agency’s National Rail Safety Action Plan. Under a waiver granted by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Canadian

Union Pacific Listed among the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate Responsibility Officer Magazine

March 4, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific has been named one of the “100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2008” by CRO (Corporate Responsibility Officer) magazine. Large-cap companies in the Russell 1000 Index were ranked based on their efforts and performance in these areas: climate change, employee relations, environment, financial, governance, human rights, lobbying and philanthropy. Union Pacific ranked highest among companies listed in the railtrack industry subgroup in the employee relations and financial categories and was among the highest in the categories of governance, philanthropy and climate change. “Being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens is truly an honor,” said

Union Pacific Elects Lance M. Fritz Vice President-Labor Relations

February 29, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific said that Lance M. Fritz has been elected vice president-labor relations, succeeding John Marchant, who has announced he is retiring at the end of June. Fritz is currently the regional vice president for the Southern Region. The company also announced that Gregory D. Workman has been elected to succeed Fritz as the vice president-southern region. Workman, currently the assistant vice president-operations for the southern region will be succeeded by the superintendent of the Houston service unit, Daniel J. Shudak. Brian McGavock will succeed Shudak as general superintendent of the Houston service unit. Fritz joined Union

Amtrak Extends Coast Starlight Service

February 20, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND – Amtrak is adding Thruway motorcoach service on a portion of the disrupted Los Angeles-Seattle Coast Starlight route, beginning Feb. 29. The Thruway motorcoach service will connect the Coast Starlight route segment between Sacramento and Portland, Ore., making connections with the Coast Starlight train at Sacramento and other Amtrak train service at Portland. The Thruway motorcoach will connect with the Chicago-Portland Empire Builder at Portland. Train service on the Coast Starlight route was suspended between Los Angeles and Seattle on Jan. 19, due to massive mudslides over the railroad north of Chemult, Ore. Union Pacific Railroad, the owner of

Union Pacific’s Diane Duren Named One of PINK Magazine’s Top Women in Business for 2008

February 16, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Diane Duren, Union Pacific Railroad’s vice president and general manager – Chemicals, is being honored as one of the Top 15 Women in Business by PINK magazine, the national magazine for professional women. PINK’s exclusive list in the March/April issue profiles the most influential women driving innovation and revenue in corporate America. “We scoured the upper echelons of corporate America to find the most significant women driving innovation in the U.S. – and adding major dollars to the bottom line in the process,” says Cynthia Good, founding editor of PINK. “These 15 women will soon claim the

Union Pacific Announces 2008 Capital Plan

February 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Corp.’s Board of Directors has approved plans to invest a total of $3.1 billion for capital projects during 2008. The Company’s capital programs are designed to enhance safety, improve customer service, increase operating productivity and add network capacity to handle our customers’ growth. Major investment categories include: $1.6 billion to maintain and strengthen the track infrastructure, $840 million to increase network and terminal capacity, $490 million to upgrade our locomotive and freight car fleet, including the acquisition of 175 high-horsepower locomotives and new covered hoppers, and $170 million primarily to upgrade information technology systems, including

California Zephyr Route Restored by Union Pacific Railroad

February 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

Union Pacific Railroad has reopened the route through the Sierra Mountains used by the daily California Zephyr (Trains 5 & 6) between the San Francisco Bay and Chicago. The tracks were blocked on Feb. 1 in a mishap involving UP snow-removal equipment. Westbound Train 5, originating from Chicago on Jan. 30 Amtrak managers responded to the Placer County location where the westbound California Zephyr was stopped. Later, a decision was made to reverse the train to Reno, Nevada, where about 160 passengers were housed and fed at Amtrak expense in area hotels, awaiting alternate transportation that was provided today. At