WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has clarified its decision allowing a Minnesota shipper’s complaint against Union Pacific — alleging the railroad had violated its common-carrier obligation by reducing service — saying it will consider granting relief only from the date of its original decision in November. Sanimax USA of South St Paul, Minn., processes […]
Railroad: Union Pacific
Union Pacific engineering employee receives safety honor
OMAHA, Neb. — Chicago-based track supervisor Lakish Vanzant has been named as the 2021 recipient of Union Pacific’s J.C. Kenefick Safety Award, the highest safety honor the company can award to an individual. Vanzant, honored for work in training, field-testing curriculum, and work-rule compliance intiatives, received the honor on Feb. 24 at the Union Pacific […]
Utah bill would require UP use of zero-emission switchers in Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s legislature is moving to pass a law that would require Union Pacific to use yard locomotives powered “wholly by a hydrogen fuel cell or electric power” in Salt Lake City no later than Jan. 1, 2028 — despite the railroad’s contention that the bill mandates an action not yet technologically […]
Union Pacific train derails in Arizona, leading to chemical leak
COOLIDGE, Ariz. — Approximately 20 cars of a Union Pacific train derailed Monday roughly midway between Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., on Monday, leading to a spill of a hazardous material. No injuries were reported. The Arizona Republic reports the accident in Coolidge, Ariz. — about 45 miles southwest of Phoenix and 60 miles northwest of […]
Southern Pacific passenger trains remembered
All through February 2022, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history and heritage of the Southern Pacific Lines. Please enjoy this photo gallery of Southern Pacific passenger trains selected from the image files in Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library. This gallery was first published in January 2019. […]
Union Pacific settles suit over 2020 Arizona derailment (updated)
TEMPE, Ariz. — Union Pacific has agreed to pay almost a half-million dollars to settle a lawsuit by the city of Tempe over a July 2020 derailment which led to a bridge fire and hazardous-material spill. KSAZ-TV reports the money is to reimburse the city for costs incurred in the July 29, 2020, incident, in […]
News photo: Union Pacific’s Super train
Union Pacific’s Super Bowl special, a 29-car train using its business train equipment, headed west on Saturday from Council Bluffs and Omaha for Los Angeles, the site of Super Bowl LVI between Cincinnati and the Los Angeles Rams. The game is set for Sunday, Feb. 13. […]
Union Pacific names Whited to sustainability and strategy position
OMAHA, Neb. — Beth Whited has been named to Union Pacific’s newly created position as executive vice president-sustainability and strategy. The appointment by the UP board of directors is effective immediately. Whited has been executive vice president and chief human resource officer since 2018. The company said that in her new role, she will help […]
Autonomous truck firm to move freight for Union Pacific
SAN DIEGO — Autonomous-truck technology firm TuSimple will begin moving freight for Union Pacific between Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., on a fully automated route developed by TuSimple. Union Pacific’s wholly owned subsidiary, Loup Logistics, will coordinate movement between rail and truck when the program starts this spring. “Partnering with TuSimple allows us to extend our […]
Colorado county plans to challenge approval of Utah rail line
EAGLE, Colo. — Officials in a Colorado county plan to challenge the Surface Transportation Board’s approval of a new rail line in Utah over concerns about resulting crude-oil shipments that will pass through their area. The Vail Daily News reports commissioners in Eagle County have approved pursuing action in U.S. District Court, in either Denver […]
Group forms to save Bakersfield, Calif., station
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A group has formed to try to save a 133-year-old former Southern Pacific railroad station in Bakersfield, and is asking the public’s help in convincing the city to extend a lease on the structure while it mounts its preservation efforts. The Bakersfield Californian reports the Save the Sumner Station Working Group […]
Class I railroad employee COVID-19 infections and quarantines hit pandemic high
WASHINGTON — The spike in COVID-19 infections and quarantines among Class I railroad employees has continued this month and hit a pandemic high in the week ending Jan. 22, according to the most recent data from the Federal Railroad Administration. Overall, 2,275 Class I employees contracted the virus, including 1,374 in the East and 901 […]