Mechanical team members at the De Soto car shop saluted teamwork and safety at the July gathering.
Commentary

Safety as a Common Goal: Union Pacific’s De Soto Shop Celebrates its Team Spirit

Union Pacific’s De Soto, Missouri, car shop recently celebrated a one-year reportable injury-free milestone – an achievement the team last reached in 2015 – with a group lunch served up by management.

From left, UP's Kim Hess, Assistant Vice President-Energy, Marketing and Sales; Ashok Fichadia, Assistant Vice President-Customer, Tech; Kaleb Koehn; Josh Saltz; and Rick Lichtas, Assistant Vice President-Network Integration and Scheduling, Network Planning and Operations. (Union Pacific photo)

Class I Briefs: CSX, UP

CSX is honored with the 2023 Patriots in Business Award and assembles care packages for military members. Also, Union Pacific’s (UP) second annual “Hackathon” event inspires innovative approaches to real-world dilemmas; and Houston officials approve a $5 million fund to help relocate residents living near polluted UP rail yard.

Front row, from left: John Gorman, Director, Continuous Improvement; Sudha Garikapati, Senior Director-Tech; LaKeisha Gatson-Dunham, General Director-Strategic Services; Ashley Sutera, Director-Marketing; Tonya Conley, Senior Counsel; Kate Ottoson, Director-Corporate Finance; Sarah Vogel, Senior Director-Train Management; Dao Tran-Young, Director-Crew Management Service Operations; Dan Culbertson, Senior Director-Talent Acquisition; Marco Villarreal, Superintendent-Train Operations; and Mike Shults, Superintendent-Train Operations. Back row, from left: Joshy Madathil, Senior Director, Tech; Frank Sierawski, General Director-Audit; Von Cloy, Senior Director-Equipment Distributing; John Boone, General Director-Signal; Mike Kadar, Director-Locomotive Engineering and Quality; Brian Leslie, Superintendent-Train Operations; Jacquelyn Clark, Senior Counsel; and Daniel Laudenbach, Superintendent-Train Operations.
Commentary

Union Pacific Celebrates Leadership Development Program Graduates

Union Pacific recently honored 19 Leadership Development Program (LDP) graduates at a ceremony in Omaha, bringing together leaders from across the railroad to celebrate its 30th cohort.

Eagle Pass, El Paso Border Crossings Reopened (Updated)

Union Pacific and BNSF were notified by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Sept. 22 that rail traffic at the Piedras Negras, Mexico/Eagle Pass, Tex., border crossing on UP’s Eagle Pass Subdivision

In the midst of a heavy snowfall, a brakeman lines a switch In Truckee, Calif. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of UP)
Commentary

Rail Safety Requires Total Commitment to Follow Rules, Look Out for Each Other

My attitude toward safety is influenced by two poignant incidents—both very personal and deeply seared into my memory.

(Ferromex Photograph)

Report: Ferromex Temporarily Suspending Service (Updated)

Mexican railway operator Ferromex on Sept. 19 said it was temporarily suspending 60 trains on south-north routes because of an increasing number of migrants climbing aboard railcars and suffering injuries, according to news reports. On Sept. 20, some trains restarted service. Union Pacific and BNSF issued embargoes at Eagle Pass in Texas.

Only cross train tracks at a designated crossing. Designated crossings are marked by a sign, lights, or a gate. (Safe Kids Worldwide photo)

Safe Kids Worldwide, UP Team Up During Rail Safety Week

To prevent rail-related injuries and deaths to kids, Safe Kids Worldwide and Union Pacific (UP) are teaming up during Rail Safety Week to release a series of resources designed to “raise awareness, educate communities, and encourage parents to talk to their kids about rail safety from an early age.”

Commentary

TD Cowen: Still Searching for Positives in Near-Term

At TD Cowen, we are lowering our rail estimates ahead of third-quarter earnings reports to reflect a very challenged environment. Leaders in the rail and logistics market who attended our latest Railroad Happy Hour” called the current outlook “bleak,” with growing uncertainty in 2025.

The North Platte Nebraska Volunteer Fire Department on Sept. 14 at 4:25 p.m. reported via social media platform X that “NP Fire & Hazmat are on scene with UPRR. The incident is contained at this time. They are monitoring the situation and the weather, adjusting their tactics and evacuations to keep responders and citizens safe. Stay alert to any changes that may come.” (Photograph Courtesy of NPVFD, via X)

Report: Explosion at UP’s Bailey Yard in Nebraska (Updated Sept. 20)

The Sept. 14 explosion from inside an intermodal container loaded on a railcar at Union Pacific’s (UP) Bailey Yard was contained within hours, allowing yard operations to resume. An investigation is under way.

The first BNSF grain shuttle leaving Minnesota for the Pacific Northwest, September 2023. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of BNSF)

Class I Briefs: BNSF, UP

BNSF provides an operating performance update for September. Also, Union Pacific (UP) Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jennifer L. Hamann joins the Board of Directors at Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Steel Dynamics, Inc.

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