UP Bailey Yard explosion appears to be accidental

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

OMAHA, Neb. — Investigators report the explosion that occurred in Union Pacific’s North Platte, Neb., Bailey Yard on Sept. 14, appears to be accidental, but it’s not yet clear what caused it, according to an AP news story. At the time of the explosion the car holding the container was not moving. It was located […]

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STB seeks more information about UP-CPKC trackage rights dispute

Aerial view of Kansas City Southern train passing grain elevators in Texas

WASHINGTON – Federal regulators have asked Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific Kansas City to provide more information regarding their ongoing dispute over CPKC trackage rights on UP between Beaumont, Texas, and the ports of Houston and Galveston. The Surface Transportation Board, in a decision posted today, also denied CPKC’s request for an expedited decision by […]

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CPKC touts its premium cross-border intermodal service linking Chicago and Mexico

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – Canadian Pacific Kansas City Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel today touted the benefits of the railway’s flagship single-line Mexico Midwest Express service linking Chicago and Mexico. Yesterday Union Pacific announced that it had shaved a day off of its rival cross-border Falcon Premium intermodal trains run in conjunction with Canadian National […]

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Vena’s growth formula at Union Pacific: Great safety plus operations and service excellence

Freight train with two yellow locomotives with small town in distance

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – New Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena says his strategy for the railroad is a simple one: Grow through great safety and excellence in operations and service. Vena, in his first public remarks since becoming chief executive last month, told an investor conference today that UP wants to grow with its customers. […]

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Union Pacific improves cross-border Mexico intermodal schedules by a full day (updated)

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – In one of his first moves as Union Pacific’s new CEO, Jim Vena took a full day out of the railroad’s premium cross-border interline intermodal service with Ferromex, including the new Falcon Premium service that connects the Canadian National intermodal network with Mexico via Chicago. Since the schedules were improved shortly […]

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Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena asks FRA for rolling stock inspection data

Numerous yellow locomotives parked in service area. Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena asks FRA for rolling stock inspection data.

OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific says the results of the Federal Railroad Administration’s focused inspections of its freight cars and locomotives raised more questions than answers. “Typically, inspections by the FRA include a focused audit close out with clear findings and action steps, as well as a meeting to discuss any findings and mitigation approaches,” […]

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NTSB documents reveal events leading up to fatal Union Pacific collision

Train wreck scene. NTSB documents reveal events leading up to fatal Union Pacific collision

WASHINGTON – The track circuit for a California siding where Union Pacific had stored empty well cars for more than eight months shifted between occupied and unoccupied nearly two dozen times in the nine hours before a stack train was routed into the siding with fatal results [see “UP train in fatal collision hit cars […]

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FRA: Union Pacific’s rolling stock inspection practices pose a safety risk

Numerous yellow locomotives parked in service area. Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena asks FRA for rolling stock inspection data.

WASHINGTON — Union Pacific’s freight car and locomotive inspection and maintenance practices pose a “significant risk to rail safety,” the head of the Federal Railroad Administration said in a letter sent Friday to top railroad executives. FRA Administrator Amit Bose said the agency conducted a focused inspection of UP’s mechanical operations and rolling stock in […]

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FRA safety advisory urges railroads to properly identify, repair high-impact wheels

Logo for Federal Railroad Administration

WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory calling on railroads to use wheel impact load detectors to properly identify and replace freight car wheels that could significantly damage track and lead to derailments. The advisory was issued yesterday in response to the Feb. 21 derailment of a Union Pacific coal train […]

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Seeking answers on ‘loss of shunt:’ Special Report

Closeup of locomotive wheelset with antenna mounted next to rail.

Second of two parts Part one of this report appeared Tuesday, Sept. 5 EFFINGHAM, Ill. —The latest round of tests investigating ways to ensure trains always activate track circuits — the process known as “shunt” — involves shunt-enhancing antennas mounted on both trucks of a state-owned locomotive in Amtrak service in California. Here’s how the […]

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Union Pacific, EPA to conduct soil testing near former SP tie treatment plant in Houston

Union Pacific logo with Building America slogan

HOUSTON – Union Pacific and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are seeking residents’ permission to conduct soil testing on their properties this month as part of the railroad’s ongoing effort to clean up contamination from the former Southern Pacific crosstie treatment plant in the Fifth Ward. The Houston Health Department independently conducted some additional soil […]

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The quest to counteract ‘loss of shunt:’ Special Report

Amtrak train with Charger locomotive and Superliner cars

First of two parts EFFINGHAM, Ill, —What happens when electrical current connected with signal systems doesn’t reliably travel from one rail to another when a train passes? Dispatchers “lose” the train — it disappears from their screens — and warning lights don’t flash or gates don’t lower at highway crossings as the train approaches. The […]

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