UP’s Denver Service Unit improves employee, public safety in 2015

Union Pacific Railroad’s Denver Service Unit, which includes about 1,700 miles of track across Colorado and parts of Wyoming, Utah and Kansas, improved community and employee safety in 2015, UP reported on March 31, 2016. The service unit reported 36% fewer railroad crossing incidents in 2015 versus 2014, reflecting progress educating the driving public about rail safety. Additionally, the service unit’s reportable employee injury rate improved 27% from 1.82 in 2014 to 1.32 in 2015, demonstrating progress toward achieving zero employee injuries.

UP’s Council Bluffs Unit improves employee safety in 2015

Union Pacific Railroad’s Council Bluffs Service Unit, which includes about 600 miles of track across Iowa and eastern Nebraska, improved employee safety in 2015 and recorded the group’s best-ever annual safety performance, UP reported on March 29, 2016. The service unit’s reportable employee improved 10%, from 0.85 in 2014 to 0.76 in 2015, demonstrating progress toward achieving zero employee injuries.

UP ranked second on Military Times’ Best for Vets List

Union Pacific Railroad jumped to the No. 2 spot on Military Times’ Best for Vets: Employers 2016 rankings, up from No. 11 the previous year, the railroad reported March 24, 2016. UP is among 75 companies selected, and the only business in the transportation industry ranked in the top five. Rankings are based on recruiting, mentoring, and on-the-job training and spouse employment.

Decher named President of ShipCarsNow, Inc.

Union Pacific recently named Peter Decher President of ShipCarsNow, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Class I railroad. Decher succeeds Martin Coalson who retired after a 37-year UP career.

Nevada benefits from faster UP trains

Recent track upgrades “meeting or exceeding all applicable Federal Railroad Administration standards” will allow Union Pacific to increase train speed from 40 mph to 60 mph on approximately 7.5 miles of rail line between Bonanza Road and Maule Avenue in Clark County, Nev., near Las Vegas, the railroad announced March 18, 2016.

UP: Safest U.S. railroad in 2015

Union Pacific (UP) employees set an all-time reportable personal injury rate record in 2015, improving 11% from 2014 to 0.87, making UP the safest Class I railroad in the United States, according to data reported by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). A railroad’s reportable injury rate is the total number of injuries reported to the FRA per 200,000 employee hours, which is equivalent to 100 employees working a full year.

UP trims capital spending, launches grade crossing evaluation program

Union Pacific on Feb. 5, 2016 announced a 2016 capital plan of approximately $3.75 billion, about $550 million lower than 2015. The plan includes $375 million for Positive Train Control. At the same time, UP announced a new safety program based on evaluating grade crossings where incidents are more likely to occur.

Volume declines impact UP financials

Like all North American railroads, Union Pacific has been experiencing volume declines. As a result, the railroad’s financial performance has suffered, for both fourth-quarter and full-year 2015, as UP reported on Jan. 21, 2016.

UP: We don’t need another merger. CP: Really?

In remarks at the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers annual meeting on Jan. 13, 2015, Lance M. Fritz, President and CEO of Union Pacific, while declining to comment specifically on the proposed CP/Norfolk Southern merger, said, “I believe a Class I rail merger is not in the best interests of the rail industry and not in the best interests of our customers.” Canadian Pacific did not appreciate Fritz’s comments, and fired a shot across UP’s bow.

UP supervisor honored with Patriot Award

California Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office (DoD), announced Jan. 4, 2016 that Tracy A. Butler, a supervisor at Union Pacific Railroad (UP) was honored Jan. 2 with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of her employee serving in the Guard and Reserve.

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