Union Pacific – Page 21 – Railfanning.org

Union Pacific Once Again Surpasses Records for Moving Loaded Coal Trains Out of Wyoming

February 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific has once again surpassed several all-time records for delivering coal out of Wyoming’s Southern Powder River Basin (SPRB). During 2008, Union Pacific set an all-time record by loading 13,212 trains out of the SPRB, 332 more trains than 2006, the previous yearly record. Union Pacific also loaded 204.6 million tons of coal out of the SPRB during 2008, eclipsing another all-time mark set in 2007 by 5 percent. “Our investments in the Joint Line and throughout our coal network continue to pay dividends in terms of our coal train velocity and throughput” said Doug Glass,

Union Pacific Railroad Invests More Than $6 Million for Track Improvements from Kansas City to Jefferson City

January 30, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Motorists will spend less time at crossings waiting for trains to pass as a result of more than $6 million in track improvements made by Union Pacific Railroad to its Kansas City to Jefferson City line. The track improvements will allow trains to operate more efficiently on the route. When the project is complete, crews will have removed and installed more than 10 miles of rail in various curves between Kansas City and Jefferson City. Work will begin on these projects Feb. 1 and is scheduled to be completed by April 8. The Kansas City to St.

Union Pacific Reports Fourth Quarter Earnings Growth Driven By Productivity and Lower Energy Costs

January 29, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Corp. reported 2008 fourth quarter net income of $661 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, a 35 percent increase compared to $491 million, or $0.93 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2007. The company posted quarterly operating revenues of $4.3 billion in 2008 versus $4.2 billion in the fourth quarter 2007. Union Pacific posted solid earnings for the quarter and the year, despite numerous challenges,” said Jim Young, Union Pacific chairman and chief executive officer. “We increased profitability by operating a safe and efficient railroad that delivered excellent service and value for our

AAR: Rail Freight Traffic Down During Holiday Week

December 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was down during the holiday week ended December 27 in comparison with the corresponding holiday week last year the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today. Total volume was estimated at 21.4 billion ton-miles, down 20.1 percent from the same week last year. Intermodal volume totaled 124,061 trailers or containers, down 21.8 percent from last year, with container volume down 21.5 percent and trailer volume down 23.2 percent. Carload freight, which doesn’t include the intermodal data, totaled 200,365 cars for the week, down 21.7 percent from last year. Loadings were down 26.5 percent

Union Pacific Builds on Military Heritage by Supporting Guard, Reserve Employees

September 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Union Pacific is a company that is proud of its strong ties with the military. Hundreds of thousands of Civil War veterans helped build the first transcontinental railroad in the 1860s, which was considered vital to national defense. During World War I and II, the railroad canteen in North Platte, Neb., was a resting place for many troops on their way overseas. Union Pacific’s partnership with the military continues today and, in some respects, is stronger than ever, said Roy Schroer, assistant vice president of human resources. Of the company’s more than 50,000 employees, more than 7,300 serve

Rail Safety Focus of International Conference

September 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Demonstrating an international commitment to railroad safety, senior safety professionals and government officials from around the world plan to convene in Denver, CO, October 5 thru 10, at the 18th Annual International Railway Safety Conference to discuss rail safety issues. The rail safety conference, which was first held in 1990, provides a forum for improving rail safety. Conference delegates will present papers and discuss different aspects of railroad safety, including accident prevention, environmental responsibility and international harmonization of infrastructure. “Safety is the railroad industry’s number one priority and this conference will help us better appreciate new methods for

House Approves Rail Safety Bill; Billions to go to Passenger Rail

September 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives has approved legislation that proponents say will improve the Nation’s intercity passenger rail system and the safety of the nation’s railroads. The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 will increase funding for Amtrak over the next five years, require new safety controls on trains that help reduce crashes, allow states to regulate solid waste processing facilities along rail lines and allocate funding for improvements to Washington’s Metro transit system. The legislation sets “an aggressive deadline” of 2015 for implementation of positive train control (PTC)

Hurricane Ike Causes Rail Freight Downturn

September 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off sharply during the week ended September 20 in comparison with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported. Much of the decline can be attributed to disruptions caused by Hurricane Ike which struck the Gulf Coast Sept. 13. Total volume was estimated at 32.8 billion ton-miles, down 6.8 percent from the comparable week last year. Carload freight in the week totaled 312,662 cars, off 7.8 percent from last year. Volume was down 10.4 percent in the West and 4.3 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is

UP Brakeman Sues Metrolink Over Crash

September 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

LOS ANGELES — The brakeman on the Union Pacific train involved in a deadly collision with a California commuter train is suing Metrolink, saying they failed to properly screen, train and supervise the engineer who is being blamed for the wreck. On Sept. 12, a Metrolink commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train collided near Chatsworth, Calif., killing 25 people and injuring more than 130 more. As part of its investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board said the Metrolink engineer sent and received text messages prior to the crash. “Basically the guy was asleep at the switch and not

U.S. DOT Report Identifies Freight Railroads’ Role in Amtrak Train Delays

September 25, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Improper dispatching practices and poor operating discipline by freight railroads are among the key reasons why Amtrak trains suffer poor on-time performance on tracks operated by those host freight railroads. That’s the upshot of “Root Causes of Amtrak Train Delays,” a new report from the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. The DOT IG issued the report in response to a request from the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. More than 70 percent of the miles traveled by Amtrak trains are operated over tracks owned by other railroads. Federal law requires that, except in emergencies or as