Status of the Railroad - A Message from Kenny Rocker, EVP, Marketing & Sales
Announcement Number: CN2025-9
Categories: General Announcements
Posted Date: May 28, 2025
To Our Customers,
The Memorial Day holiday has always represented the start of summer for me and I am so glad it is finally here! My daughters have already wrapped up the school year and I am looking forward to spending time with my family. Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of gathering with the entire Marketing & Sales department and I can tell you this team is engaged, energized and focused on helping you find ways to grow your business.
Automation Improves Rail Operations
At Union Pacific, our commitment to delivering the service we’ve sold begins with strategic investments in our network infrastructure. We continuously prioritize capital expenditures that enhance our operations, ensuring the reliability and efficiency you expect from us.
Our new automated tie unloading significantly reduces the time and disruption traditionally associated with unloading ties on our mainline. Union Pacific replaces 3-4 million ties every year to maintain the high-quality infrastructure needed for safe train operations. By automating the distribution process with the push of a button, we can now accomplish in just a few hours what used to take several days. This enhancement not only minimizes mainline downtime but also increases growth capacity for our valued customers like you.
Furthermore, automation extends beyond track maintenance. Our Terminal Command Center utilizes advanced technology to provide our frontline leaders with comprehensive visualization and optimization tools. This aids in train movement recommendations based on real-time mainline and terminal conditions. The improved decision-making process has led to enhanced train assembly, car switching and overall terminal efficiency. These advancements drive velocity and generate additional capacity, ensuring we continue to meet your growing needs.
Our Metrics
Heading into the Summer, our weekly service metrics for the week ending May 23, 2025, remain strong. This success is a testament to the dedication of the entire Union Pacific team and our commitment to provide the service we’ve sold our customers.
- Freight Car Velocity – 223 miles per day
- Train Velocity – 19.7 miles per hour
- Terminal Dwell – 21.0 hours
Register for Our Upcoming Webinar
Customer-Powered Tech – Join us June 2, as we share how our latest customer technology, including AI enhancements and $40M in safety and security upgrades, is transforming operations.
Thank You
Thank you for your continued trust in Union Pacific. We are dedicated to leveraging technology and innovation to enhance our services and support your business objectives. We appreciate your business and look forward to exploring future growth opportunities together.
Kenny Rocker
Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales