People
January 15, 2026
U.S. Labor Secretary Visits Union Pacific Railroad as Part of Nationwide Tour to Promote Job Creation and Workforce Development
Union Pacific Railroad was proud to host U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer Wednesday at its state-of-the-art Training Center and Harriman Dispatching Center, where she saw firsthand the innovative and world-class training that goes into developing the railroad’s highly skilled workforce, expected to grow with the creation of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad.
The tour is part of Secretary Chavez-DeRemer’s 50-state ‘America at Work’ listening tour that began last April to promote economic development and job creation. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have proposed a landmark merger to create the nation’s first coast-to-coast railroad, which they estimate will lead to the creation of approximately 900 net new union jobs to meet anticipated growth in rail demand.
Chavez-DeRemer toured both Union Pacific’s Training Center and the Harriman Dispatching Center, which serves as the railroad’s central nervous system, dispatching trains and crews 24/7 across Union Pacific’s 23-state network.
“Union Pacific is helping power our economy by investing in the skilled workforce that keeps our supply chains moving, and I enjoyed seeing that commitment up close as part of my 50-state America at Work listening tour,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “I appreciate their efforts to strengthen our skilled workforce and keep America competitive for decades to come.”
The day ended with Vena giving Chavez-DeRemer a chance to see Union Pacific’s newest commemorative locomotive: No. 1616 Abraham Lincoln. This special locomotive honors Union Pacific’s founder and will be on tour next year to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.