Gulf Region Rail Operations Update
Announcement Number: CN2017-64
Categories: General Announcements
Posted Date: August 30, 2017
To Our Customers,
Tropical Storm Harvey has made landfall in the Beaumont, Texas area with heavy rains and flooding in eastern Texas and western Louisiana. Rail operations along the Gulf Coast from Brownsville, Texas to Lake Charles, Louisiana are currently suspended due to high water and storm damage.
As weather and access to storm-damaged areas allow, we are inspecting and repairing track, bridges and signals to return to service as quickly and safely as possible. We are beginning to inspect most areas in Houston and west of Houston. In areas where we have no road access, we are utilizing helicopters and drones to inspect areas by air. The majority of areas east of Houston are still inaccessible at this time. We expect to be able to begin clean-up at our Englewood and Settegast yards in Houston today or tomorrow in order to return the yards to service.
Routes through San Antonio opened up allowing us to run trains both north and south between San Antonio and Hearne, Texas. All Mexico gateways are open with the exception of Brownsville, Texas.
If you have questions regarding the movement of specific rail equipment, please continue to input Service Issues via our secure customer website MyUPRR.com (User ID and password required). Our Hurricane Hotline is 800-365-6963 and should be used by our customers to report any damage to facilities that would impact our ability to provide service once operations resume. This information should include damage or tracks out of service and estimated facility repair time.
We have issued embargoes on all rail traffic destined to stations on the Gulf Coast and inland that comprise our Houston Service Unit. Active Union Pacific embargoes can be viewed on our embargo page. The embargo is for all rail traffic, including intermodal equipment and automotive shipments. Customers should consider diverting cars away from the impacted area.
Please contact the National Customer Service Center or your Union Pacific representative with any questions.
