Top executives from three Class I railroads will be speaking at the 246th meeting of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) on Jan. 13–14, 2016, which will be held at Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, Ill.
Buffeted by decreases in operating income and revenue and business volumes compared to the prior-year quarter, Union Pacific still managed to post an all-time quarterly record operating ratio of 60.3% in 2015’s third quarter. A huge decrease in average quarterly diesel fuel costs—$1.81 per gallon, a whopping 40% lower than in third-quarter 2014—was the determining factor.
GATX Corporation, founded 117 years ago in Chicago, is helping to bring awareness to another iconic Chicago institution, John G. Shedd Aquarium. With support from GATX’s customer, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA), a boxcar was custom-designed to display various marine images and was unveiled at Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago on Oct. 13, 2015.
BNSF and Union Pacific have each moved two of the longest and heaviest unit frac sand trains ever seen in North America. BNSF and short line Southwestern Railroad recently delivered a 150-car train to Rangeland Energy’s RIO Hub near Loving, N.Mex. UP operated a 233-car, DP (distributed power) train out of Mason City, Iowa in late September 2012.
Appalachian Railcar Services, Inc. (ARS) announced Sept. 30, 2015 that its wholly-owned subsidiary, ARS Nebraska, LLC, has acquired all of FreightCar America, Inc.’s railcar repair and maintenance services business.
Missouri Valley, Iowa, has been awarded membership in Union Pacific’s (UP) Train Town USA Registry as part of UP’s ongoing efforts to highlight cities with a historical connection to the railroad. The city received an official Train Town USA resolution signed by UP Executive Chairman Jack Koraleski during a presentation at the Watson Steam Train and Depot Museum. UP launched its Train Town USA Registry as part of the railroad’s 150th anniversary celebration in 2012.
Union Pacific has promoted two public affairs officers to new positions, effective Oct. 1, 2015. Wes Lujan has been named Vice President Public Affairs, Western Region, and Liisa Stark has been named Assistant Vice President Public Affairs for Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Union Pacific Railroad (UP) was honored by Nissan with its Cost Leadership Award, while Union Pacific Distribution Services (UPDS) received the automotive manufacturer’s Zero-Emission Leadership Award, the company announced August 12, 2015.
Union Pacific President and CEO Lance Fritz issued a statement to non-agreement employees on August 12, 2015 announcing a “workforce reduction initiative” as “the railroad takes the necessary steps to align resources with current business requirements.” Fritz added that the company plans to reduce its management workforce in Omaha and other locations by several hundred people in the coming months through a combination of anticipated attrition and terminations.
The National Business Group on Health (NBGH) has named Union Pacific (UP) among the Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles for 2015, marking the 11th year UP has received the award, the railroad announced on August 5, 2015.