Safety
July 1, 2026
Union Pacific Brings Proven Technology Together to Move Rail Safety Forward
Union Pacific is building on proven safety tools to move rail operations forward. At the center of that progress is Integrated Train Operations (ITO), which combines decades of technology into a coordinated system that decreases variability, reduces risk and supports enhanced safety across the network.
That approach builds on a foundation already delivering results. Tools like Energy Management Systems (EMS) and Remote-Control Operations (RCO) have long track records of enhancing safety. Today, EMS supports about 70% of Union Pacific train miles and has logged more than 300 million miles – the equivalent of traveling around the earth more than 12,000 times – while RCO has been safely supporting operations for more than two decades. Now, these proven systems are integrated to enable ITO.
“The real shift is how the technology works together,” said Eric Gehringer, executive vice president-Operations. “Today, operators coordinate systems manually. ITO carries out the operator’s commands to provide safe and consistent train handling, freeing them up to focus on their environment.”
Combining these technologies is only part of the story – the railroad has been rigorously testing the system.
“We’ve logged more than 30,000 hours of lab and field testing to see how the system performs in real conditions,” Gehringer said. “That’s the equivalent of more than a decade of full-time work, so we know the system responds as expected, and results meet or exceed current operations.”
The testing is part of a broader safety program that aligns system design, testing and day-to-day operations. Teams evaluate potential risks, build in safeguards and continue validating to make sure those protections hold up in practice.
The railroad is now seeking to expand testing through a phased program in revenue service, all under FRA oversight. The goal is to gather more data in real operating conditions while maintaining existing safety protections. Each phase must meet a clear standard: operations must be as safe or safer than they are today.
With proven technology, rigorous testing and continued oversight, ITO represents a deliberate step forward – building on what works to deliver more consistent, reliable service for the customers and communities that depend on rail every day.
Visit UP.com/innovation to learn how Union Pacific continually advances technologies that enhance safety, aid employee decision-making and improve efficiency.
Executing Union Pacific’s Safety, Service and Operational Excellence strategy lays a strong foundation for creating America’s first transcontinental railroad.