June 2009 Archive

June 30, 2009

CSX Commits to Lower Carbon Dioxide Emissions

(01:25 p.m. CDT) CSX Transportation announced June 29 a plan to cut CO2 emissions associated with train operations by 8 percent per revenue ton mile. More...

Class I Employment Continues to Slide

(12:25 p.m. CDT) U.S. Class I employment in May dropped to 151,536, down 1.77 percent from the previous month and down 8.33 percent from May 2008. More...

June 26, 2009

Laredo Special Agents Crack Arson Case

(10:15 a.m. CDT) Following a recent fire that destroyed the interior of a locomotive cab, UP special agents in Laredo, Texas, immediately launched an arson investigation. More...

Operation Lifesaver Launches New Campaign

(08:30 a.m. CDT) Operation Lifesaver, Inc., the U.S. Department of Transportation and major railroad companies June 24 announced the launch of the Common Sense campaign to reduce the number of pedestrians who are killed and injured when trespassing around tracks and trains. More...

June 25, 2009

Davidson Yard Walks the Talk on Recycling

(10:00 a.m. CDT) Showing off its green thumb, Davidson Yard is taking significant steps to reduce, reuse and recycle. More...

June 19, 2009

Cub Scouts Learn Railroad Safety

(08:45 a.m. CDT) Focusing on education, safety and awareness, David Miller and Ryan Going recently spoke to more than 300 children at an annual Cub Scout day camp in Jefferson City, Mo. More...

June 18, 2009

Rail Traffic Shows Slight Improvement

(02:15 p.m. CDT) Rail carloadings and intermodal were up from the previous week with carloads at their highest level in 10 weeks. While traffic showed signs of improvement from the previous week, compared year over year traffic remains down. More...

UP Discusses Ag Opportunities

(12:55 p.m. CDT) Soy Transportation Coalition members met with several members of Union Pacific's Marketing and Sales grain team in Omaha today, discussing UP's role in agricultural transportation. More...

June 17, 2009

STB: U.S. Class I Workforce Shrank in May

(03:15 p.m. CDT) According to the Surface Transportation Board's (STB) most recent employment data, as of mid-May the workforce stood at 151,536, representing a 1.8 percent decrease from mid-April's level and 8.3 percent drop from May 2008's count. More...

June 16, 2009

Young Discusses UP's Outlook in Challenging Times

(03:05 p.m. CDT) Watch Chairman Jim Young's recent interview with Bloomberg's Monica Bertran in "For The Record," where he discusses the railroad, its outlook and pricing. More...

Study: U.S. Freight System Modernization Is Necessary

(10:40 a.m. CDT) According to a study issued June 9 by the RAND Corporation, the long-term efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. freight transportation system is threatened by bottlenecks, inefficient use of some infrastructure components, vulnerability to disruptions, and crucial environmental and energy concerns. More...

Arizona Freight Line Gets Green Light

(10:30 a.m. CDT) The Surface Transportation Board announced June 12 that it had authorized 135-mile Arizona Eastern Railway to construct a 12.1-mile, single-track line to serve Phelps Dodge Mining Company mines in Safford, Ariz., as well as the Safford Regional Airport and a contemplated industrial park adjoining the airport More...

June 12, 2009

BLET, UTU File to Prohibit One-Person Crews

(09:25 a.m. CDT) The UTU and the BLET June 11 filed a petition with the FRA seeking an emergency order prohibiting the use of one-person crews in all train operations, including remote control and conventional switching operations. More...

June 11, 2009

Knight Discusses UP's Franchise, Initiatives

(08:35 a.m. CDT) Rob Knight will address the Bank of American Merrill Lynch 2009 Global Transportation Conference at 12:50 p.m. ET on Thursday June 11, in New York. More...

June 10, 2009

Coalition Backs Truck Weight-Boosting Bill

(05:00 p.m. CDT) More than 100 shippers and shipper associations recently teamed up to launch the Coalition for Transportation Productivity (CTP) to urge Congress to raise the federal vehicle weight limit on interstates. More...

UP Discusses Role in Ag Arena

(03:50 p.m. CDT) Reflecting on UP's role in the country's agricultural arena, Paul Hammes, vice president and general manager-Agricultural Products, met with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) in Omaha this morning. More...

June 5, 2009

IT, Supply Partnership Reveals Hidden Costs

(01:10 p.m. CDT) Claiming most CIOs are "operating in survival mode" given today's down economy, CIO Insight recently praised Lynden Tennison and Joe O'Connor's strategic partnership that allows Union Pacific to maximize its vendor relationships. More...

Rail Traffic Down Sharply in May

(12:35 p.m. CDT) U.S. rail carload traffic in May 2009 fell 24.7 percent compared to May 2008 numbers. U.S. rail intermodal traffic (which is not included in carloads) fell 19.7 percent last month. More...

Foreman Honored for Excellence

(12:25 p.m. CDT) Injury free for nearly 34 years, Bob Mendoza recently was recognized as a World Class Employee for his dedication to safety, his job and Union Pacific. More...

June 4, 2009

Supply Department Reaches Safety Milestone

(01:20 p.m. CDT) Total Safety Culture (TSC) principles, pride and good working relationships led Supply Department employees systemwide to achieve 12-consecutive injury-free months on May 25, 2009. More...

June 2, 2009

Antitrust Bill Ousted from Senate

(02:20 p.m. CDT) The Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009 (S. 146) won't reach the Senate floor for a vote today, as had been anticipated. More...

FRA: Safety Improved in First Quarter

(11:00 a.m. CDT) Train accidents were down 30.6 percent to 450 from the 648 reported in the January-March period last year. Collisions declined 2 percent to 39, and derailments were off 32.5 percent to 318. More...

Retirees Speak Out Against Harmful Legislation

(10:35 a.m. CDT) A group of Union Pacific retirees has become active in Go21 - a grassroots organization that supports policies benefitting the rail industry and defends against harmful legislation. More...