Severe Weather Impacts Rail Operations

Announcement Number: CN2014-21
Categories: General Announcements
Posted Date: June 25, 2014

To Our Customers:

Several days' worth of adverse weather conditions continue to impact rail operations at several points across our network. Multiple incidents of washouts, flooding and mud slides have caused track outages and service interruptions in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Texas. Union Pacific is working around the clock to restore service to the affected areas and rerouting trains on alternative routes. Updates to major interruptions are listed below:

  • Work crews continue to repair flood-related damage to the Mankato subdivision between St. Paul and Butterfield, Minn. More than 35 locations along the route were affected by mud slides, washouts and other flood-related damage. Sections of the subdivision will remain closed for the next 10 days to two weeks as repairs are made and traffic rerouted.
  • Select flood gates have been closed near St. Paul to protect against rising Mississippi River levels. While our main lines near flood gates in St. Paul remain open, some industry leads are now closed.
  • Following the repair of a bridge breach near Fairbault, Minn., service has been restored on the Albert Lea subdivision south of St. Paul.
  • Washouts on the Sanderson subdivision between Alpine and Del Rio, Texas, interrupted service early this week. Limited service has been restored as we continue to make permanent repairs.

These episodic service interruptions and weather issues coincide with continued interline connectivity challenges and strong demand from customers. The interruptions impact not only local operations but also network velocity and fluidity.

Union Pacific continues to devote significant resources to improve velocity across our network. Our investments in surge resources and network capacity have proved invaluable as we work through weather challenges, service interruptions and increased demand. In addition, we have doubled our Train, Engine and Yard (TE&Y) employee hiring rate and created a pipeline of additional locomotives, both of which will become available throughout the remainder of 2014 and early 2015. And finally, we continue to work closely with our connecting railroads to improve interchange fluidity. We expect to see steady improvement over the coming weeks as we repair damaged areas and restore velocity.

Thank you for your business and your continued support of Union Pacific. Please contact the National Customer Service Center or your Union Pacific Representative with any questions.