Metra Outlines 2024 Construction Plan

CHICAGO – Metra on April 3 detailed its construction program for 2024, covering station, track, road crossing, bridge, and signal/communications improvement projects along the Chicagoland commuter railroad’s 11 lines totaling nearly 500 route-miles. In addition

STB Approves Savage Tooele Railroad Company to Construct 11 Miles of Rail in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY – Savage Tooele Railroad Company (STR) has approval to build and operate 11 miles of rail in Utah that will connect to Union Pacific Railroad.

1955 To Now: Union Pacific Shares Photos of MoW Workers

OMAHA – The Class I shares three photos of Maintenance of Way workers from 1955 to today.

NetControl Positions Union Pacific as Technology Trailblazer

OMAHA –– Union Pacific made history on Jan. 6, 2024, when we became the first Class I railroad to modernize the “big three” core operating platforms: Positive Train Control (PTC), Computer-Aided Dispatch (CADx) and Transportation Management (NetControl).

Union Pacific Begins Infrastructure Projects in Missouri

TRENTON, Mo. – Union Pacific crews are working near Trenton, Missouri to replace 83,000 ties and 17 miles of rail.

USDOT Awards $4.9B for Mega, INFRA Projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is distributing $4.9 billion to 37 nationwide projects through the FY 2023-24 Mega (National Infrastructure Project Assistance) and INFRA (Infrastructure for Rebuilding America) grant programs. Twelve rail-related projects will receive a total of $1.6 billion; the Pier B project at the Port of Long Beach and the Louisiana International Terminal project at the Port of New Orleans are among the winners.

ICC Approves Highway/Rail Grade Crossing Projects

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has signed off on stipulated agreements to improve safety at highway/rail grade crossings in Cumberland and Stark counties. Total cost: $1.84 million.

Eagle Pass, El Paso Rail Crossings Resume Operations –– From Our Colleagues at Railway Age

EAGLE PASS AND EL PASO, Texas –– Following five days of closures at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Dec. 22 the reopening of these key international crossings, according to an Association of American Railroads (AAR) release.

USCBP Shuts Down Eagle Pass, El Paso Rail Crossings—Again (Updated) –– From Our Colleagues at Railway Age

EAGLE PASS & EL PASO, Texas –– For the second time in four months, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has temporarily suspended operations at three U.S./Mexico international railway crossing bridges—two on Union Pacific and one on BNSF.

Union Pacific Invests in Composite Ties

TEXARKANA, Ark. – Union Pacific shares its focus on sustainability efforts through its investment in alternative materials for railroad ties.

Tamping Down the Details: Union Pacific Completes ‘First-of-its-Kind’ Equipment Overhaul

DENVER, Colo. – Union Pacific Railroad’s Engineering team recently tackled a monumental effort at its equipment shop in Denver, Colorado – rebuilding the first of 32 massive track maintenance machines to make them more user-friendly, enhance safety and simplify repairs.

Union Pacific’s Switch Modernization Project; Color-Based Switch Targets

OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific is undergoing a switch modernization project.

Union Pacific Issues RFQ for CREATE Project EW2

CHICAGO – Union Pacific has issued a Request for Qualifications, or RFQ, to provide property acquisition services for UP and NS’s part of CREATE Project EW2.

Union Pacific Thanks Crews for Reporting Unsafe Behavior at Crossing; Receives Federal Funding

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. – Union Pacific crews anonymously reported concerns over an unsafe behavior at a crossing in Sacramento County, California.

NTSB Railroad Investigation Report: Amtrak Train 531 and UP RMM Collision

OAKLAND, Calif. – The NTSB released a Railroad Investigation Report after a collision between Amtrak train 531 and a Union Pacific Roadway Maintenance Machine in July of last year.

Union Pacific Completes Repairs in Calexico Subdivision

LOS ANGELES – Union Pacific has finished repairs in its Calexico subdivision after flooding.

Union Pacific Makes Repairs in Three Subdivisions in Southwest after Monsoon

LOS ANGELES – Union Pacific finishes repairs in three California subdivisions after flooding caused by torrential rainfall.

Commentary – UP Narrowly Avoided Disaster

When we set the stage for Tropical Storm Hilary, it was a good exercise in knowing what to look for and what to worry about. Specifically, we expected some track washouts but didn’t worry about it, because they’re relatively quickly repaired within a few days, and it’s primarily bridge outages on key arteries that represent a threat to broader network health.

UP Track Updates After Hurricane Hilary

OMAHA – The Class 1 put out two news releases in which it details the work completed to resume service in California.

‘Women in Rail’: Top HR Execs, Recruiters to Tackle Career Development

The 2023 Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail event, to be held Nov. 2 in Chicago, will feature a panel of human resources and recruitment executives discussing changes in freight and passenger rail recruitment, retention,

LOAD MORE