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Nov
21

Union Pacific updates PTC progress report

Union Pacific Railroad is making progress on its plan to implement positive train control (PTC) and will meet all required deadlines for installing the safety technology on its network, the Class I announced yesterday.

"As allowed by federal law," UP will continue to implement, test and refine the technology during 2019 and 2020, company officials said in a press release.

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Oct
25

UP touts Q3 financial performance, Unified Plan 2020 progress

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Managing Editor

Today, Union Pacific Railroad announced its third-quarter diluted earnings per share reached $2.15, representing a 43 percent year-over-year increase and an all-time quarterly record.

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Oct
24

Katoen Natie opens UP-served plastic packaging facility in Texas

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 10/24/2018 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad and logistics and distribution services provider Katoen Natie last week held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a new plastic packaging facility in the Prime Pointe Industrial Park in Dallas.The Katoen Natie facility — which features 262,000 square feet of warehouse space — is the latest addition to the 3,000-acre industrial park, which has attracted new business opportunities as a result of the park's access to freight rail, according to a UP press release.Future expansions of Katoen Natie's facility could increase capacity to 2.5 million feet, company officials said. The location will enable the company's customers to diversify export channels to global markets. Producers will ship bulk rail cars filled with plastic resin pellets to the warehouse where the pellets will be packaged and loaded into intermodal containers. UP will then transport the containers to ocean ports via its Dallas-to-Dock intermodal service."Katoen Natie‘s Dallas location is a great example of freight-rail utilization to provide growth opportunities and overall economic development for this region," said Kari Kichhoefer, UP's vice president-industrial.Adds Katoen Natie USA President Frank Vingerhoets: ”With this new Dallas-to-Dock location we continue to expand our local and international network of logistic hubs. It will provide our customers an alternative export solution and a back up to their current export flows.”

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Sep
21

STB wants regular updates from UP as it phases in scheduled railroading

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has asked Union Pacific Railroad senior management to hold weekly phone calls with the board's Rail Customer and Public Assistance Office as the Class I implements its new precision scheduled railroading plan.

STB Chairwoman Ann Begeman and Vice Chairwoman Deb Miller wrote yesterday to UP Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Fritz after UP informed the board of the railroad's new operations plan. In seeking to maintain weekly communications with UP management, the board is trying to help prevent freight-rail service problems that arose when UP competitor CSX implemented precision scheduled railroading last year.

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Sep
18

Union Pacific to launch precision scheduled railroading plan

Union Pacific Railroad next month will launch a new operating plan that will implement precision scheduled railroading principles.

UP's "Unified Plan 2020" will launch Oct. 1 and will be rolled out in phases across the Class I's network. Resulting benefits are expected to help UP achieve its 60 percent operating ratio goal by 2020, on the way to achieving a 55 percent operating ratio, company officials said in a press release.

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Sep
13

UP awards $5.9 million in grants to nonprofits

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 9/13/2018 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad has awarded nearly $5.9 million in local grants this year to 600 nonprofit organizations throughout the Class I's 23-state network.UP's Community Ties Giving Program provides small- and medium-sized grants within the railroad's "priority cause" areas: safety, workforce development and community spaces. A small portion of funding is allocated to other local community needs."Investing in high-quality nonprofits and programs helps achieve our mission of building safe, prosperous and vibrant communities," said UP Foundation President Scott Moore in a press release.The next local grant application period will run April through May 2019. More information about the program is available on UP's website.

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Sep
10

Union Pacific to acquire 1,000 refrigerated boxcars

Union Pacific Railroad plans to procure 1,000 high-tech refrigerated boxcars — and up to 1,600 if needed — which would mark one of the largest equipment acquisitions in UP history.

Brad Thrasher, UP's vice president-agricultural products, revealed the Class I's plans during a transportation workshop at the Idaho Grower Shippers Association's convention late last month, according to a Sept. 6 report in The Produce News.

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Sep
07

UP elects DeLaney to board

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 9/7/2018 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
William DeLaneyPhoto – Sysco Corp. video on YouTube

Union Pacific Corp. announced yesterday that William DeLaney has been elected to the company's board.

DeLaney, 62, served as Sysco Corp. chief executive officer from March 2009 until he retired at the end of 2017.

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Aug
31

UP to provide crude-by-rail service for Vista terminal in Texas

Vista Proppants and Logistics LLC has entered into a definitive agreement with JupiterMLP LLC for transloading crude oil from truck to rail at its facility in Pecos, Texas.

Vista and Jupiter plan to ship crude oil via Union Pacific Railroad through 2019 and potentially into 2020, depending on pipeline construction timelines and capacity availability, the companies announced earlier this week in a press release.

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Aug
30

UP's PTC work to continue into 2019-20

Union Pacific Railroad announced yesterday it will continue to "implement, test and refine" positive train control (PTC) technology in 2019-20.

The announcement was part of UP's regular quarterly updates of its PTC implementation progress.

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Aug
16

UP announces exec management changes, EVP Scott's retirement

Union Pacific Railroad yesterday announced executive management changes, including the retirement of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cameron Scott.

UP officials announced the following executive appointments: Beth Whited to EVP and chief human resources officer; Tom Lischer to EVP, operations; Kenny Rocker to EVP, marketing and sales; David Giandinoto to VP, Harriman Dispatching Center and network operations; and Kari Kirchhoefer to VP, industrial.

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Aug
03

BASF honors UP for sustainability practices

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 8/3/2018 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
BASF Corp. recognized Union Pacific Railroad as a "Supplier of the Year" for performance in sustainability in North America.UP was the only railroad that the chemical company honored with the award, which is given to suppliers that exhibit a "strong commitment supporting BASF's dedication toward environmental, social and economic success," UP officials said in a press release.Nine companies received honors in logistics, raw materials and technical goods and services categories.UP and BASF teamed up to move super-absorbent polymers (SAPs) for the first time via rail, eliminating more than 100 trucks from the road and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Class I. SAPs absorb and retain large amounts of liquid commonly found in products such as diapers.The project delivered a sustainable, consistent alternative supply chain for BASF's customer by expanding transportation modes and supporting on-site inventory, UP officials said.

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Jul
31

Nissan honors UP for transportation solutions, hurricane recovery

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 7/31/2018 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad has received the 2018 Nissan North America Logistics Value to Customers Award for providing transportation solutions supporting a new model launch and its Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts in summer 2017."Union Pacific employees stepped up and provided creative solutions to help Nissan maintain important customer commitments," said Jason Hess, UP's vice president-premium, in a press release. "We will continue focusing on providing an excellent experience and finding new ways to help customers win in their marketplaces."The Class I is the largest automotive carrier west of the Mississippi River, transporting more than 70 percent of western U.S. rail automotive shipments. It operates or directly accesses more than 40 distribution centers, all six Mexico gateways, and West Coast and Mexican ports.

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Jul
19

UP reports 29 percent growth in Q2 net income

Union Pacific Railroad today reported second-quarter net income jumped 29 percent to $1.51 billion, or $1.98 per share, from $1.2 billion, or $1.45 per share, in the same quarter a year ago.

Operating income for the quarter rose 5 percent to $2.1 billion and operating revenue climbed 8 percent to $5.7 billion compared with second-quarter 2017, according to a UP press release.

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Jul
10

UP recognizes 54 shippers for chemical safety

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 7/10/2018 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad has recognized 54 companies with its Pinnacle Award for safely transporting chemical products.The annual award honors UP customers that implement release prevention protocols, corrective action plans and have zero non-accident releases (NARs) of regulated hazardous materials shipments.Award criteria include safe-loading techniques, shipment securement and zero NARs. NAR is an unintentional hazardous material release during rail transportation not caused by an accident."We appreciate the business collaboration, preventative measures and continued focus on eliminating chemical releases during transit," said Kenny Rocker, UP's vice president and general manager-industrial, in a press release.Pinnacle Award honorees based on 2017 shipments can be read here.

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Jul
09

U.S. Rep. Hurd tours UP's border protection facility in Texas

U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) late last week toured Union Pacific Railroad's Clarks Park Yard U.S. Customs and Border Protection Facility in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Organized by the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC), the tour "highlighted the importance of border security and international trade" for UP and the rail industry, NRC officials said in a press release.

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Jun
26

UP to increase train speed on Minnesota line

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 6/26/2018 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad will increase the maximum track speed limit to 40 mph from 30 mph on a line running to Highway 60 in Worthington, Minnesota, the Class I announced late last week.Starting June 28, UP will increase train speeds by 5 mph increments between the 12th Street and Armour Road crossings. Speeds will increase until reaching 40 mph on July 5, according to a UP press release.UP plans to spend $6 million to improve rail infrastructure in Minnesota this year as part of the railroad's capital expenditure program. The expenditures will include $3.4 million to maintain track and $1.8 million to maintain bridges.

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May
30

UP issues annual sustainability report

Union Pacific Railroad yesterday released its ninth annual sustainability report, which details the company's progress on social, economic and environmental initiatives during 2017.

UP applies the Global Reporting Initiative's reporting standards to report the company's social responsibility issues, including economic impact, operating safely, strengthening communities, engaging employees and preserving the environment.

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May
02

UP to repower locomotives to cut emissions in California

Union Pacific Railroad is partnering with two California air management districts to repower 10 low-horsepower diesel-electric locomotives into new Tier 4 switchers for its yard-switching locomotive fleet starting in fall.

The new switchers will reduce particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen emissions by more than 90 percent during operations when compared to older locomotives, UP officials said in a press release.

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May
01

UP 'safest' Class I for employees

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 5/1/2018 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad is the safest Class I in employee safety for the third consecutive year based on Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) data, the company announced yesterday.UP logged a 0.79 reportable injury rate for 2017. The Class I's reportable injury rate represents the total number of injuries reported per 200,000 employee work hours."Being the safest railroad for the third consecutive year reflects our employees' consistent dedication to keeping each other safe," said UP Vice President and Chief Safety Officer Rod Doerr in a press release. "Our work isn't finished and we will continue focusing on eliminating risks to accomplish our ultimate goal of operating in an incident-free environment."UP's employee-driven safety initiatives include Courage to Care, a voluntary effort in which employees look out for the peers and "stop the line" on operations that could result in an incident.Twice annually, the company stops work systemwide to hold safety stand downs, which gives employees a chance to have candid discussions and share experiences to learn from each other, UP officials said.

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