OMAHA, Neb. — Trains will operate more efficiently as a result of more than $26 million in track improvements made by Union Pacific Railroad to its line between Schuyler, Neb., and Duncan, Neb.
When the project is complete, crews will have removed and replaced more than 77,000 concrete ties and 30 miles of rail, spread more than 100,000 tons of rock ballast to ensure a stable roadbed and replaced the road surfaces at 17 crossings. The project began October 2 and is scheduled to be completed by mid November.
Crews will complete this track improvement project using Union Pacific’s modern track renewal train, the TRT 909. The TRT 909 installs rail and concrete ties in one pass, and can install up to 5,000 ties in a twelve-hour day. About 30 cars – each carrying 210 concrete ties – are part of the TRT. Three sets of gantry cranes move the concrete ties forward for the TRT to drop into place and the machine then threads the new rail onto the ties. The old wooden ties are picked up and the discarded rail threaded out as the machine works its way down the track. A conveyor moves the removed ties into position for the gantry cranes to load them onto the cars for movement to a facility for sorting. The TRT 909 can install concrete, composite and wooden ties.
In 2008, Union Pacific’s engineering renewal program invested more than $254 million in track work and facility improvements in Nebraska to ensure safe, reliable transportation.
During 2009, Union Pacific plans to invest $1.7 billion in strengthening the track infrastructure across its more than 32,000-mile system. This extensive investment in the railroad’s track helps ensure Union Pacific has the capability to offer quality, safe and cost-effective service to meet its customers’ current and future transportation needs.
Improved and additional rail capacity benefits everyone. It allows freight rail service to grow, helping to build a cleaner environment – freight train emissions are two-thirds less than trucks. Motorists also benefit from reduced congestion on America’s highways since a single train can remove about 300 trucks off our roads.
