WASHINGTON — Trade groups representing chemical manufacturers, mining companies, energy producers, and agricultural interests, plus several individual shippers, and railroad labor unions all plan to participate in next week’s Surface Transportation Board hearing on Union Pacific’s increased use of embargoes as a way to manage congestion. Trade groups including the American Chemistry Council, The Fertilizer […]
Railroad: Union Pacific
Big four U.S. railroads report progress on service recovery goals (corrected)
WASHINGTON – The big four U.S. Class I railroads have told federal regulators that their service is at or near pre-pandemic levels thanks to improved train crew staffing levels. BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific each pointed to improvements in their key operating metrics in updated reports filed on Friday with the […]
Union Pacific says congestion-related embargoes are a tool of last resort
MANALAPAN, Fla. – Union Pacific, which has come under fire for its increased use of embargoes, has not fully shut down service to any customers as it grapples with congestion related to ongoing train crew shortages. “It really is a tool of last resort for us. As a common carrier, we don’t have other mechanisms […]
The Lionel Legacy ES44AC is back
The Lionel Legacy ES44AC has returned quickly the train-maker’s catalog with new road names. It seems that when tooling sells well, we’ll certainly see it again sooner rather than later. Judging by the model’s re-issue for 2022 after being last offered 2019, it can be assumed that they are popular with collectors of modern motive […]
Regulators order Union Pacific to explain increased use of embargoes (updated)
WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have ordered Union Pacific executives to appear at two days of hearings next month regarding the railroad’s increased use of embargoes, which have skyrocketed from 27 in 2017 to 886 as of October this year. “The Board has been closely monitoring UP’s recent use of embargoes and has observed a disturbing […]
Trains Trackside Trailer
Follow Trains.com videographer Kevin Gilliam as he explores U.S. railroading action from a trackside perspective. And when the opportunity arises, you’ll also find other notable contributors capturing footage of contemporary railroad operations – everything from steam-powered tourist train to Class I heavy haulers to Amtrak Northeast Corridor high speed Acela sets. Of course, you’ll never know […]
Historic Union Pacific equipment arrives in Illinois (with video)
SILVIS, Ill. — Union Pacific’s hospital train of historic equipment from Cheyenne, Wyo. arrived at the Silvis shops of Railroading Heritage of Midwest America late on the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 19, just ahead of planned ceremonies to mark donation of the locomotives and other rolling stock. The equipment, including 4-6-6-4 Challenger No. 3985, 2-10-2 No. […]
Southern California authorities say they’ve broken up crime rings involved in UP container thefts
LOS ANGELES — Southern California authorities say they have broken up two crime rings involved in thefts from Union Pacific intermodal trains that drew national attention last year because of images of the trackside area awash in empty boxes left behind after containers were broken into and their contents were stolen — activity that reportedly […]
RailPulse freight car telematics pilot program to expand early next year
NEW YORK — RailPulse, the joint venture aiming to provide shippers with real-time, precise freight car location no matter where the car is in North America, will expand its pilot program to more than 1,000 cars early next year. The pilot program began in April with just over 300 cars equipped with GPS sensors that […]
Union Pacific “hospital” train detoured onto Iowa Interstate
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The “hospital” train ferrying historic Union Pacific steam locomotives and other equipment to Silvis, Ill. was detoured onto the Iowa Interstate Railroad at Council Bluffs this morning. The train has been making a slow move across the UP main line since departing Cheyenne, Wyo. on Nov. 11. The slow speed of […]
The four things railroads must do to win the battle with trucks
NEW YORK — Railroads will not regain market share lost to trucks unless they shift to traffic growth mode, transform their operations, and provide service that’s far more reliable than ever. That’s the view of Oliver Wyman partner Adriene Bailey, who this week outlined four big steps railroads must take in order to deliver the […]
Union Pacific asks customers to meter traffic or face embargoes
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific once again will meter traffic to limit congestion if certain customers don’t voluntarily reduce the number of private freight cars operating on the railroad. UP informed shippers last week, Trains News Wire has learned. “Union Pacific regularly reviews our network to monitor for elevated inventory,” UP spokeswoman Robynn Tysver says. […]