Union Pacific – Page 23 – Railfanning.org

UP: Michael Rock Named Vice President External Relations

October 1, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

Union Pacific announced that Michael Rock has been named vice president of External Relations effective Oct. 1. In his new position, Rock is responsible for Union Pacific’s government affairs operation in Washington, D.C. Rock replaces Mary McAuliffe, who has announced her plans to retire early next year. A 16-year veteran of Union Pacific’s Washington office, Rock first joined UP as director of Washington Affairs for Transportation. In 1998 he was named assistant vice president of External Relations. Before joining Union Pacific, Rock held a number of government positions including deputy director of Congressional Affairs under U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary

Union Pacific Rail Yard Would Include Features Designed to Reduce Brighton Traffic Disruption

September 20, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Traffic disruption at four rail crossings in downtown Brighton, Colo., would be reduced as part of the development of a new Union Pacific (UP) classification yard and intermodal terminal proposed between Brighton and Fort Lupton, Colo. A classification yard and intermodal terminal currently located in Denver would be relocated to the proposed new site between Brighton and Fort Lupton in order to make way for two FasTracks commuter rail corridors, under a possible agreement between UP and the Regional Transportation District (RTD). Plans under consideration include new sidings – a section of track parallel to the main

Union Pacific Railroad Makes Track Improvements Between Des Moines and Kansas City

September 18, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad is spending $8.2 million this year on track improvements between Des Moines, Iowa, and Kansas City, Mo. Upon completion of the projects, crews will have removed and installed 55,400 ties; spread 10,700 tons of rock ballast to ensure a stable roadbed; replaced the surfaces at 31 road crossings, and replaced 2.5 miles of rail in various curves on the line. Work began on these projects in January and is scheduled to be completed by January 2008. Crews are currently replacing 33,000 wooden ties between Williamson, Iowa, and near Chariton, Iowa, and are scheduled to

Union Pacific Delivers Record Amounts of Coal to Nation’s Utilities

September 13, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — During the annual meeting and general conference of the National Coal Transportation Association (NCTA) this week in Denver, Union Pacific credited operational improvements for moving a monthly record of 17.2 million tons of coal — 1,118 trainloads — from Wyoming’s Southern Powder River Basin (SPRB) in August. “According to reports from the U.S. Department of Energy Information Administration, coal stockpiles are at the highest level in four years, up 38 percent over last year’s levels,” said Doug Glass, vice president and general manager – energy. “We are pleased with the progress and contributions we have made to

Union Pacific Begins Construction of $90 Million State-of-the-Art Intermodal Terminal in Southwest Bexar County

August 22, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

SAN ANTONIO — Union Pacific has broken ground on a $90 million state-of-the-art intermodal terminal, which is expected to generate $2.48 billion in cumulative economic impact for the area over 20 years, officials said. Located strategically between rail lines traveling to and from the West Coast and Mexico, the 300-acre rail port will ship and receive containers and trailers with household goods and other items supporting retailers and distribution centers, as well as auto parts for a new Toyota plant in San Antonio. “Union Pacific is very pleased to begin work on our San Antonio Intermodal Terminal, which will provide

Officials Announce Second Amtrak Cascades Train to Canada

June 20, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

SEATTLE, Wash. – Washington state, British Columbia, BNSF Railway Co. and Amtrak have reached an agreement to make infrastructure improvements that will permit a second daily Amtrak Cascades train between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Governor Chris Gregoire and Premier Gordon Campbell made the announcement June 8 at the King Street Station in downtown Seattle. The Province of British Columbia, Amtrak, and BNSF are funding this $7 million project, which includes construction of a new 11,000-foot siding track near Colebrook Road in Delta, B.C. The new siding track will allow for passenger and freight trains to pass one another at this

Amtrak, Union Pacific Reach Agreement for Passenger Train Performance Plan

June 20, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak and Union Pacific Railroad have reached an agreement on a performance plan to reduce passenger train delays attributed to track conditions. Under the agreement, Union Pacific will limit speed restrictions that can cause Amtrak trains to fall behind schedule on Union Pacific’s routes. Union Pacific is the nation’s largest railroad and is one of the three biggest hosts of Amtrak service, including short-distance trains and parts of four overnight routes in the West, Pacific Northwest and Midwest. Imposing temporary speed restrictions is a common railroad practice. Frequently called “slow orders,” these restrictions are put into effect when

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to Offer Fastest Service Between Southern California and Southeast

April 30, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway will significantly improve eastbound domestic transcontinental service from Los Angeles to the Southeast on May 21. The service improvement in this important high-volume lane will result from shifting traffic from the Memphis gateway to the new Shreveport, La., gateway. This new route, combining Union Pacific’s Sunset Route between Los Angeles and Texas with Norfolk Southern’s and Kansas City Southern’s joint venture line between Shreveport and Meridian, Miss., is nearly 150 miles shorter than the current route, making it the shortest, fastest and most reliable intermodal route between Los Angeles and

Amtrak Adjusts Missouri Service Schedules to Accommodate Trackwork

March 21, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — Amtrak is adjusting train schedules between St. Louis and Kansas City effective April 2, 2007, due to a major track repair project by the line’s owner, Union Pacific Railroad (UP). The project will continue through the fall of 2007 and is expected to lead to improved ride quality and reliability. During the construction period, UP will install new rail, ties, ballast and replace surfaces at road crossings. Unlike 2006, when Amtrak and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) regularly chartered motorcoaches, this year’s plan calls for two daily round-trips to be provided solely by train. “Although we were

Rail Employees at Nation’s Largest Rail Yard to Confidentially Report ‘Close Calls’ Under New Federal Rail Safety Pilot Project

February 2, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Employees at the nation’s largest rail yard can now voluntarily and anonymously report “close call” incidents that could have resulted in an accident, but did not, without fear of sanction or penalty from their employer or the federal government as part of a new rail safety pilot project. “Having the opportunity to learn about and analyze these ‘close-calls,’ will help us identify and correct problems across the industry,” Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman said, noting that the aviation industry already has a similar program. FRA currently requires railroads to report a wide range of accidents