Utah bill would require UP use of zero-emission switchers in Salt Lake City

Yellow locomotives

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 […]

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Union Pacific train derails in Arizona, leading to chemical leak

Union Pacific logo with Building America slogan

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 […]

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Southern Pacific passenger trains remembered

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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. […]

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Union Pacific settles suit over 2020 Arizona derailment (updated)

Aereal view of derailment and damaged bridge

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 […]

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Union Pacific names Whited to sustainability and strategy position

Head-and-shoulders photo of smiling woman

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 […]

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Autonomous truck firm to move freight for Union Pacific

Semi truck on highway

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 […]

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Colorado county plans to challenge approval of Utah rail line

Logo of Eagle County, Colo.

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 […]

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Group forms to save Bakersfield, Calif., station

Black and white photo of train 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 […]

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Class I railroad employee COVID-19 infections and quarantines hit pandemic high

Chart showing COVID infections for Class I railroad crews

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 […]

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Union Pacific orders 20 battery-electric locomotives for yard service (second update)

Red and black locomotive with full-width carbody to accomodate batteries

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific will purchase 20 battery-electric locomotives to test in yard service, the largest commitment to date for the technology by any rail operator. In separate announcements Friday, the railroad announced purchase of 10 Wabtec FLXdrive locomotives and 10 of Progress Rail’s EMD Joule locomotives. The railroad said the cost of the […]

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Union Pacific, Amtrak, BNSF score well on Human Rights Campaign equality list (second update)

Equality best places to work logo

Union Pacific has earned a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index, earning it a place on the foundation’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality list, the railroad has announced. Union Pacific was the only railroad to earn a 100% score. Amtrak and BNSF Railway also scored well, at 90% […]

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