About 20 miles east of Tucson, Ariz., is a vastly underrated train-watching location: Cienega Bridge. The bridge carries Union Pacific’s former Southern Pacific Sunset Route over itself and Cienega Creek. The main line is split through this section of the desert, and each main track has its own dedicated right-of-way. In 1880, SP built what […]
CHICAGO — Metra has sued Union Pacific for breach of contract over its fare collection policies on the three Metra lines operated by UP, saying an “arbitrary and capricious” refusal to deploy conductors is severely damaging Metra’s bottom line, reputation, and customer experience. In a response Wednesday afternoon, Union Pacific said it is “is unwilling […]
OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific has cut more than 60 dispatching positions at its Harriman Dispatching Center in Omaha and its joint dispatching office in Spring, Texas, this week. The affected dispatchers, who are management employees, were notified on Thursday and Friday that their jobs were being eliminated, according to a person familiar with the […]
More Wednesday morning rail news: UP to close one hump at Bailey Yard Union Pacific will close one hump at Bailey Yard in North Platte, Neb., consolidating car sorting to the newer, westbound hump on the world’s largest railroad yard. The North Platte Telegraph reports the eastbound hump, which opened in 1968 and sorts cars […]
Still more Monday morning rail news: UP hit by derailments in Wyoming, Nebraska A pair of derailments disrupted Union Pacific Overland Route operations on Saturday, with 67 cars of grain derailing in an incident near Bosler, Wyo., and 38 cars derailing near Maxwell, Neb. KTWO Radio reports the grain derailment, involving a train bound from […]
More Thursday morning rail news: Fire shuts down UP line in Colorado’s Glenwood Canyon, disrupts Amtrak service Operation of Union Pacific trains and Amtrak’s California Zephyr were disrupted Tuesday by a fire in Colorado’s Glenwood Canyon that shut down the former Denver & Rio Grande Western rail line through the canyon. The Glenwood Springs Post […]
CHICAGO – The Surface Transportation Board is declining to intervene in an ongoing dispute between Metra and Union Pacific – for now. In a decision published Wednesday, the STB is holding a decision on its jurisdiction in abeyance and has directed both parties to inform the agency of any rulings issued by the federal district […]
TEMPE, Ariz. – Union Pacific expects to reopen the derailment-damaged bridge, and thus its line to Phoenix, “late next week,” the railroad has told customers in a service update. “Our Engineering and Operating teams have been working around the clock. All debris and damaged rail equipment have been removed and repairs to the bridge are […]
Union Pacific’s route to Phoenix will be cut off indefinitely following Wednesday’s derailment and fire which led to a partial collapse of the 108-year old Salt River bridge in Tempe, Ariz., but the railroad says a reroute plan is in place to continue to serve customers. Shipments are subject to delays of up to 72 […]
A Union Pacific train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire Wednesday morning on a bridge in Tempe, Ariz. Part of the bridge collapsed, sending railcars onto a roadway and an empty park below. CNN reports one person was treated for smoke inhalation; train personnel were not injured. Eight to 10 cars caught fire, according […]
Union Pacific claims it will suffer “millions of dollars in losses and incur millions in additional risk” if forced to continue to operate commuter rail service for Metra, according to the previously sealed lawsuit it filed against the commuter rail agency last December. The lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District […]
CHICAGO — Metra has asked the Surface Transportation Board to issue an injunction to prevent Union Pacific from acting on plans that the commuter railroad says would “degrade or halt service” on the three Metra lines operated by UP. In a press release, Metra also says it has asked the STB to rule whether UP […]
