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OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific today took the wraps of its first mother-slug set of hybrid switching locomotives that can run on diesel fuel or batteries. The units, SD40-2 slug set UPY No. 409 and UPY No. 309, were converted at the railroad’s Jenks Locomotive Shop in North Little Rock, Ark., and will begin testing […]
PORTLAND, Ore. — A Union Pacific train derailed early this morning at the east end of Portland’s historic Steel Bridge, closing the heavily used bridge while authorities assessed its structural integrity. The derailment also meant the vertical lift portion of the bridge could not be raised, impacting ship traffic on the Willamette River. “The issue […]
LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Missouri River Runner service has been canceled today, the second day of cancellations because of a Union Pacific derailment early Sunday near Kansas City, according to the Amtrak Alerts feed on social media site X. The through Lincoln Service/Missouri River Runner trains that operate between Chicago and Kansas City are originating […]
LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — The engineer and conductor of a Union Pacific train were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following a derailment early this morning, the Lee’s Summit Fire Department reports. The fire department responded to a call at approximately 12:45 a.m. of a derailment in the Unity Village area between Rhinehart […]
Trains News Wire spoke with Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena after the railroad’s first quarter earnings call this morning. [See Union Pacific profits improve despite drop in coal.] UP introduced a Service Performance Index that showed how well the railroad met customer commitments during the quarter. The Intermodal Service Performance Index was 95%, while the […]
OMAHA Neb. — Union Pacific’s first-quarter profits rose despite flat revenue and lower freight volume. “We are pleased to be able to report earnings growth in a tough environment,” CEO Jim Vena told investors and analysts on the railroad’s earnings call this morning. Operating income rose 3%, to $2.3 billion, on flat revenue of $6 […]
TRENT, Texas — About two dozen cars of a Union Pacific train derailed east of Trent on Tuesday, April 23, KTXS-TV reports. The derailment occurred about 8 p.m.; a UP spokesman said there were no injuries and no releases of hazardous materials. Images on the station website show derailed double-stack containers. KTAB/KRBC-TV reports that high […]
Omaha, Neb. — Recognizing the vital role played by its train dispatchers when it comes to safe operations, the Union Pacific Railroad has presented its Guardian Award to nearly 300 dispatchers for their work in 2023. The honored dispatchers work in three locations – Omaha, Neb., San Bernardino, Calif., and Spring, Texas. UP train dispatchers, […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board today closed the book on its investigation of Union Pacific’s record use of congestion-related embargoes in 2022 – but not before scolding the railroad for failing to comply with board orders and requests for information. “UP’s conduct in this regard bordered on the contumacious and cannot be viewed as […]
Nebraska’s U.S. Route 30 LOCATION: Trains Columnist Don Phillips prescribed driving Nebraska’s U.S. Route 30 along the Union Pacific main line as an antidote for the 1970s railroad blues (“Solace on Highway 30,” October 1978). For all that has changed in 45 years, the railroad is still Union Pacific and it always puts on a […]
CHAPPELL, Neb. — Approximately 30 cars of a Union Pacific intermodal train derailed Sunday in the town of Chappell, leading to the short-term evacuation of a few residents as a precautionary measure and closing U.S. Route 30 for about two hours. KNOP-TV reports the incident was reported about 5:30 p.m., and that an evacuation of […]
McNEIL, Ark. — A member of a Union Pacific work crew was killed Thursday while repairing a washout on the railroad, KSLA-TV reports. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office reports Danny Brent Wilkins, 43, of Rison, Ark., was struck and killed by machinery during repairs after two days of heavy rains. He was declared dead at […]
