TEMPE, Ariz. — A broken rail is the probable cause of a derailment of a Union Pacific train on a Tempe bridge in July 2020, which led to a fire, collapse of part of the bridge, and a release of hazardous material, according to a report released Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board. The […]
Railroad: Union Pacific
Data reported to federal regulators reveal extent of deterioration in rail service
Overall on-time performance for the big four U.S. Class I railroads has fallen from a pre-pandemic average of 85% to just 67% in the last week of May 2022, as crew shortages continue to plague rail service. The extent of the service decline was revealed in historic on-time performance data that BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, […]
NS, UP offering transcontinental intermodal service for Hapag-Lloyd from Virginia to the West Coast
Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific are teaming up to deliver Hapag-Lloyd international containers from the Port of Virginia to destinations on the West Coast. The new service, said to be a first and dubbed OceaNS Bridge Express, was announced on Wednesday but was launched in April. Importers are struggling with congestion that has caused lengthy […]
Cost pressures prompt Union Pacific to reduce financial outlook
OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific has lowered its financial expectations for this year in light of rising fuel prices, inflation, and the impact of its sluggish operations. It’s now unlikely that UP will reach an operating ratio of around 55% for the year, Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Hamann told an investor conference on Tuesday. UP […]
Union Pacific joins RailPulse freight car location monitoring joint venture
OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific has joined the RailPulse joint venture that will provide customers with real-time location information for freight cars wherever they are on the North American rail network. UP becomes the second Class I railroad to participate in RailPulse, alongside founding member Norfolk Southern. The company’s other partners include shortline holding companies […]
UP coal train derails in Nebraska
GOTHENBURG, Neb. — An estimated 30 cars of a Union Pacific coal train derailed Thursday morning two miles southeast of Gothenburg, KOLN/KGIN radio reports. The accident about 7:30 a.m., involving a train eastbound from Wyoming, blocked all three tracks of the UP main line about 35 miles southeast of North Platte, with the railroad working […]
Railroads outline six-month service recovery plans for federal regulators
WASHINGTON — The four largest U.S. Class I railroads have told federal regulators that their conductor training programs and hiring pipelines are full as they try to restore service to normal levels amid widespread crew shortages. The railroads’ service recovery plans, submitted to the Surface Transportation Board on Friday as required, outlined the steps BNSF […]
Railroads report on-time performance to federal regulators for first time
WASHINGTON – The Class I railroads submitted their first batch of expanded performance metrics to federal regulators this week, including a snapshot of on-time performance data. The board on May 6 ordered the railroads to report the data beginning this week in response to shipper complaints and testimony delivered during two days of hearings last […]
Original Big Boy tender to be restored by Railroading Heritage of Midwest America
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Railroading Heritage of Midwest America will restore the tender for Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014, the Union Pacific Historical Society learned Thursday at its annual meeting. Restoration of that tender will allow the tender currently used by the Big Boy to be rejoined with its original locomotive, Challenger No. 3985, which […]
Railroading Heritage of Midwest America announces double matching grant
MINNEAPOLIS – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA) has announced a Double Matching Grant program to aid in the restoration of its two recently acquired Union Pacific steam locomotives, Challenger No. 3985 and 2-10-2 No. 5511. Under the program announced this week, all donations to RRHMA’s Steam Restoration Fund will be matched with $2 for […]
U.S. rail traffic dips slightly in first week of May
WASHINGTON – For the week ended May 7, U.S. rail traffic registered 504,927 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.5% decline over the same period in 2021. Figures from the Association of American Railroads show the total number of carloads at 231,737, down 1.9% over the same week in 2021, while intermodal volume was 273,190 containers […]
Canadian regulators propose more detailed requirements for reporting railroad performance metrics
OTTAWA, Ontario – Class I railroads operating in Canada would be required to report additional performance and staffing metrics under a proposal Canadian regulators unveiled on Friday. Transport Canada’s move was announced on the same day that the Surface Transportation Board said it will temporarily require the big railroads to provide more detailed operational and […]