2024 Archive
Safety 05082024
Union Pacific Locomotive Engineer Encourages Public to Stay Alert at Railroad Crossings
More than 95% of rail-related fatalities are preventable, an Association of American Railroads statistic that motivates Union Pacific Locomotive Engineer Mel Doughty to promote highway-rail grade crossing safety at every opportunity.
Community 05072024
Union Pacific Provides After-School Support to Students in Washington State
In the state of Washington, 16 percent of students fail to graduate from high school. The Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound has made its mission to change that, by providing after-school education opportunities for school-age kids. In 2023, they served over 5,000 students with opportunities to learn and grow outside of school.
Real Railroaders 05062024
Union Pacific Mechanical Team Keeps America's Goods Safely Moving
Union Pacific’s dedicated Mechanical team has responsibility for inspecting, repairing or rebuilding more than 4,500 active locomotives and 300,000 rail cars traversing our network – critical work supporting the railroad’s commitment to safely delivering the service it sold its customers.
Innovation 05032024
Union Pacific Shaves Two Days Off Los Angeles to Chicago Route with New Service
Union Pacific is offering a new domestic intermodal service between Los Angeles and Chicago that cuts transit time to three days.
Real Railroaders 05012024
Saluting Union Pacific’s 50-Year Railroaders
Continuing a long-standing Union Pacific tradition, employees achieving 50 years of railroading will be honored Wednesday, May 8, in a special ceremony with Union Pacific senior leadership at 11:15 a.m. CT.
Innovation 04292024
Union Pacific Testing First-of-its-Kind Hybrid Locomotive
The first of six cutting-edge hybrid battery-electric locomotives designed and built by Union Pacific and its partner ZTR, a leading rail technology company, will undergo extensive testing next month in a Union Pacific facility and rail yard.
Insights 04252024
Push to Achieve What’s Possible
The results we are delivering prove what is possible. The freight market has been tough, but as we focus on our Safety, Service and Operational Excellence strategy, we are building a solid foundation for long-term growth.
Safety 04242024
Locomotive Engineer Todd Barras: 'My Main Goal is Going Home to My Family'
A fateful choice almost cost 29-year railroader Todd Barras, locomotive engineer, his life.
Innovation 04232024
Union Pacific Ships Longest Wind Turbine Blades in Company History
Union Pacific and Vestas, the leading global wind turbine manufacturer, collaborated to ship the company’s V163-4.5 MW wind turbine blades across the country by rail. The planning of this launch began more than two years ago in 2022, when Vestas introduced its new high-capacity wind turbine.
Innovation 04222024
10to90 Plastic Collection Pilot Advances Union Pacific's Sustainability Commitment
Union Pacific is kickstarting a 10to90 plastics circularity pilot, removing the intermediary to sustainably send post-consumer plastic back to the source.
Safety 04192024
Union Pacific Honors Train Dispatchers for Exceptional Safety Focus
Union Pacific train dispatchers are the railroad’s protectors, coordinating the safe movement of trains, engineering equipment and employees across more than 32,000 track miles covering 23 states.
Community 04182024
Union Pacific Supports Utah Art Museum's Mission to Strengthen Young Community
Utah’s Springville Museum of Art fosters community and connection for visitors of all ages – and thanks to Union Pacific’s support, they now have even more innovative offerings for their youth and teenage visitors.
Real Railroaders 04162024
Union Pacific Employee Sees UP Values on Navy Cruise
In 2023, approximately 40% of Union Pacific’s freight originated or terminated outside of the United States. As America’s premier railroad focuses on “Building America,” it can be easy to forget our true global outreach. Recently Marketing and Sales Manager Mark Karpf had an opportunity to participate in a “Tiger Cruise,” allowing civilians the chance to ride a U.S. Naval Ship for a short non-combat cruise.
Safety 04092024
Safety Vanguard: Bayson Oxuzidis Trailblazes Path at Union Pacific
Under the harsh gaze of the Sonoran sun, one leader’s approach to safety is as relentless as the desert heat itself. That quiet force is Bayson Oxuzidis, a dedicated Union Pacific rail car technician of more than 18 years.
Innovation 04042024
Union Pacific to Offer New Domestic Service Between Southern California and Chicago
Union Pacific is expanding in the Chicago area, providing customers direct domestic intermodal service from the Los Angeles Basin to the heart of Chicago and taking more trucks off the road.
Real Railroaders 04012024
Union Pacific Engineering Employee Honored by Springfield Police for Lifesaving Effort
Union Pacific's Nate Gutmann was recently honored for his lifesaving efforts in Springfield, Illinois, where he intervened to save a community member in crisis. Exemplifying the railroad’s commitment to community safety, Gutmann earned the Springfield Police Department's Civilian Certificate of Appreciation.
Community 03252024
Union Pacific Helps Houston Nonprofit Spark Fun and Safety For All
Only 61% of Houston residents live within a 10-minute walk of a public park. SPARK School Parks Program, a local nonprofit, is working to change that by creating and refurbishing parks at public schools in the Houston area.
Insights 03222024
New Executive Appointments Support Operational Excellence
CEO Jim Vena shares share organizational changes celebrating leaders who’ve made significant contributions to our company and elevating leaders to new posts in our pursuit of growth as we advance our Safety, Service and Operational Excellence strategy.
Safety 03212024
Union Pacific Volunteers Support Mental Health, Substance-Free Workplace Safety Initiatives
At Union Pacific, our training and safety mindset are embedded in everything we do. From building trains, to maintaining tracks and repairing rail cars – for the safety of every employee, mental health is always a top priority. To support these efforts, Union Pacific’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has recently hosted a series of classes for new field volunteers deepening their understanding of company services, programs, policies, benefits and outreach efforts.
Safety 03192024
Union Pacific Invests in World-Class Safety, Launches New Training
Union Pacific continues making progress towards its goal to be the best in safety, investing in people, enhancing infrastructure, transforming culture and harnessing the transformative power of technology.
Insights 03182024
NetControl Positions Union Pacific as Technology Trailblazer
Union Pacific made history on Jan. 6, 2024, when we became the first Class I railroad to modernize the “big three” core operating platforms: Positive Train Control (PTC), Computer-Aided Dispatch (CADx) and Transportation Management (NetControl).
Innovation 03142024
Union Pacific Earns Repeat as MODE Global's Carrier of the Year
MODE Global recently recognized Union Pacific as the 2023 Railroad Carrier of the Year award recipient. This marks the second year in a row that Union Pacific was recognized with this honor.
Real Railroaders 03122024
Union Pacific Employees Honored for Outstanding Public Safety Commitment
Exemplary commitment to railroad safety and community outreach earned David Welch, conductor, and Vernon James, manager-Train Operations, Union Pacific's 2023 Dennis G. Beachler Grade Crossing Safety Award.
Insights 03062024
Near Miss Illustrates Need for Constant Safety Vigilance
Railroaders can’t become complacent or lose respect for the heavy equipment they work around every day. A close call early in my career brought that message home for me and underscored why safety must always be top of mind.
Innovation 03052024
Union Pacific's Revolutionary Track Rebuild Process Drives Efficiency
As efficiency is king at Union Pacific’s Englewood Yard – one of the nation’s busiest rail yards, capable of processing nearly 3,000 cars a day – UP's Engineering team recently revamped its process for conducting routine track maintenance.
Safety 03042024
Union Pacific Reminds Solar Eclipse Spectators to Stay Clear of Railroad Tracks
Donning solar eclipse glasses is a must for April 8’s total solar eclipse, but Union Pacific reminds spectators of another important safety tip: enjoy the celestial event away from the railroad tracks.
Community 02292024
Union Pacific Supports Minneapolis Nonprofit in Cultivating Compassion, Second Chances
Nationwide, almost 70% of formerly incarcerated people return to prison within three years of release. The Redemption Project (TRP), a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization, aims to upend this statistic by providing a second chance through education, mentorship and employment.
Innovation 02282024
Union Pacific Sows the Seeds for 2024 after Scoring Successful Harvest
As a critical link in the world’s agricultural supply chain, Union Pacific invests considerable time and resources preparing for the fall harvest. U.S. corn and wheat stocks are significantly larger than a year ago, and Union Pacific is leveraging lessons learned from the 2023 harvest when it moved grain cars faster, farther, and more efficiently.
Real Railroaders 02272024
Union Pacific's Southern Voice on the Hill Retires After 33 Years
Throughout his career representing Union Pacific on Capitol Hill leading the railroad’s External Relations team, Printz Bolin has split his life between two very different worlds.
Real Railroaders 02232024
Unlocking Potential: Tuition-Free Education Offers Union Pacific Employees Flexibility and Growth
Through a partnership with the University of Nebraska Omaha, Union Pacific’s Educational Assistance Program makes pursuing higher education a tangible and achievable objective.
Safety 02132024
Union Pacific's Heartland Team Wins Its First-Ever Safety Bell
Union Pacific's Heartland Service Unit recently claimed its first Safety Bell, the Operating Department's highest annual team safety honor awarded to the service unit with the best overall safety record.
Innovation 02122024
Rare Palm Trees Provide Unique Growth Opportunity
Union Pacific's Phoenix Transload Facility offers transloading, storage and trucking solutions – but also has a unique item throughout the yard, Blue Hesper Palms.
Innovation 02082024
Union Pacific Recognized as Home Depot's Rail Carrier of the Year
The Home Depot recently recognized Union Pacific as the 2023 Rail Carrier of the Year at its annual Executive Carrier Conference. This marks the third time in four years that Union Pacific has won the award.
Community 02072024
Union Pacific Celebrates Opening of Phoenix Intermodal Terminal
Union Pacific's new Phoenix Intermodal Terminal is ready to serve one of the fastest-growing markets in the United States, connecting the Southwest with international ports in Southern California. The facility opened Feb. 1, just 45 days after the railroad’s initial announcement.
Safety 02062024
Union Pacific Special Agent Castaneda Protects and Serves in Eagle Pass
At the start of every workday – typically around 5 a.m. – Union Pacific Senior Special Agent Danny Castaneda packs up his gear and heads to work in Eagle Pass, Texas, with his partner, a K-9 named Saar, in tow.
Insights 02052024
Union Pacific's AI Chat Gives Employees Tool to Save Time and Drive Efficiency
Since developing our own, secured version of ChatGPT, Union Pacific employees have embraced the technology to generate blog posts and create executive summaries of white papers as well as generate code snippets and analyze and organize large, unstructured data sets.
Community 02022024
Union Pacific Retired Chairman Fritz Inducted into Nebraska Business Hall of Fame
Union Pacific retired Chairman, President and CEO Lance Fritz has been recognized for his contributions to Nebraska’s economy and business environment as a new member of the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.
Safety 02012024
Grade Crossing Safety a Win-Win for Arkansas Community and Union Pacific
To be the best at safety, Union Pacific employees regularly volunteer their time and talent to bring all community stakeholders to the table – from schoolchildren and teen drivers to transportation industry professionals.
Innovation 01302024
Union Pacific Hauls Record Carloads of Rock in 2023
Union Pacific had a rocking good year in 2023 – literally. The railroad hauled a record amount of rock, edging out the previous record set in 2006 by a few hundred carloads and increasing overall carloads by 23% compared with 2021 and 9% compared with 2022.
Insights 01252024
Union Pacific is Making Progress Preventing Derailments
On Eric Gehringer's first day at the railroad nearly 20 years ago, he saw train crews in the yard relying on printed paperwork to do their jobs. Today, the men and women of Union Pacific have that information at the touch of their fingertips on a mobile device. Technological advances in the rail industry are reflecting in numbers showing derailments are declining.
Insights 01252024
4Q Results Show What's Possible When We Work Together
Our strong fourth quarter results demonstrate what is possible when we work together to deliver Safety, Service and Operational Excellence. Our team is aligned and moving forward with powerful momentum. Being aligned and clear on our objectives gives me great confidence that we have a winning strategy. As we tackle our work together, I am very excited and grateful for what we are achieving for all of our employees and our stakeholders.
Insights 01192024
Union Pacific's Resilient Team, Network Support Continued Winter Weather Operations
Severe weather systems have persistently impacted Union Pacific’s 23-state rail network since early last week, with Team UP continuously battling heavy snowfall, strong winds and subzero temperatures. In the southern part of the network, crews have dealt with tornado warnings, severe thunderstorms and heavy rain.
Safety 01122024
Union Pacific Joins Forces with Jefferson County and ExxonMobil for Mutual Aid Preparedness Drill
Union Pacific conducted an emergency response drill in Texas with Jefferson County first responders and ExxonMobil’s Beaumont polyethylene plant, sharing information and best practices as part of a mutual aid emergency response drill.
Innovation 01112024
Union Pacific's Proviso Locomotive Shop Overcomes Winter Weather Challenges to Keep Freight Moving
Located adjacent to the nation’s largest rail hub, Union Pacific's Proviso Locomotive Shop plays a critical role maintaining a locomotive fleet on the move – approximately 1 million rail cars travelled through Illinois in 2022.
Insights 01102024
Union Pacific Environmental Pro Loves the Adrenaline Rush of Serving His Community
The fire service has been part of the Heard family's legacy for almost 85 years. Chip Heard's dad, brother and three uncles have all served as firefighters, and now his two sons also are career firefighters. All chose this life because they wanted to help others and serve their communities.
Innovation 01082024
Union Pacific Extends Rail Network Through Production Facility in Bryan, Texas
Union Pacific is proud to join forces with CertainTeed Roofing, a sustainable exterior and interior building products manufacturer, who broke ground in early December on its new warehouse and distribution center in Bryan, Texas. The new facility will be fully rail optimized.
Real Railroaders 01042024
Union Pacific Employee-Led Outreach Programs Save Lives, Careers
Every day, thousands of railroaders come to work at Union Pacific's shops and yards, working with heavy machinery and tools – for the safety of every employee, mental health will always be a priority. Union Pacific employee volunteers are trained with one goal in mind – provide support when it’s needed most, with access to immediate resources that can help.