UP increasing train speed following improvements on Madera County line

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

Recent track upgrades meeting or exceeding all applicable Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) standards will allow Union Pacific to increase train speed from 60 mph to 70 mph on nearly 15 miles of its rail line between Chowchilla and Madera, Calif.

 

Train speeds will be increased 10 mph on April 27, when the new maximum speed limit of 70 mph goes into effect. Union Pacific meets the FRA inspection, maintenance and engineering standards required to implement this speed increase.

From 2009-2013, Union Pacific invested more than $1.4-billion in California’s rail infrastructure. The company plans to spend a record $4.3-billion across its network this year, following investments totaling more than $31 billion from 2005-2014. These investments contributed to a 38-percent decrease in derailments over the past 10 years.

 

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