Service
August 20, 2025
How Union Pacific’s Real-Time Tech Is Powering Rail Growth
One of the busiest areas we operate in is the southern part of our network. To keep operations running smoothly there, we need to make sure our terminals – where rail cars are sorted and loaded onto trains – are working efficiently. When our terminals are running well, it generates capacity and opportunities for us to grow. That’s good for our business – and even better for our customers.
When I started out as a conductor, we relied on instinct and experience. Visibility was limited to what you could observe firsthand. Fast forward to today: we’re using real-time data and automation to completely change the rail operations landscape.
At the core of this shift is Terminal Command Center (TCC), a digital platform that provides us with a live look at what’s happening in terminals across our 23-state network. TCC provides insight into current crew productivity and how cars are flowing through the terminal – data that helps us ensure we are moving freight according to plan. With this information all in one place, our teams can quickly respond to challenges, keep operations on track and make better decisions – faster.
Think of a terminal as a large-scale sorting facility where rail cars get routed and grouped by geographical destination, then connected to the right train for on-time delivery to our customers. Terminals are some of the most critical points in a rail car’s journey – and efficiency here means we eliminate hours, and in some cases days, from customer transit times. Technology is helping us by unlocking performance in real time.
One major benefit: we can identify production slowdowns immediately. If an engine is sitting too long or a task isn’t moving along, we don’t have to wait hours. TCC helps us flag gaps in workflow and improve how teams are scheduled and deployed.
At Houston’s Settegast Yard, we’re already seeing the benefits of terminal modernization. A tool called Mobile NX lets employees switch tracks remotely with handheld devices instead of walking miles to do it manually. It’s more efficient, safer and frees up time for crews to focus on other productive activities.
Soon, we’ll deploy a Dynamic Bowl Optimizer, which will allow yards to automatically adjust track usage based on traffic and demand, unlocking more rail car blocking capabilities without additional infrastructure. The result is fewer car touches and better transit times.
We’re also integrating intelligent planners and testing camera-based technologies to make tasks even safer. These innovations, combined with the expertise of our people, position us to handle more volume with greater consistency – and to do it safely.
TCC isn’t just a new dashboard. It’s a smarter way of working that empowers our teams to problem solve, reduce delays and deliver results. And in a business where every minute matters, that makes a big difference.
I see it in the way our teams respond – proactively and more efficiently, with the right tools at their fingertips. This progress extends beyond digital screens; it is tangible across our network. We’re providing customers with smarter, safer and faster service than ever before.