UP Expecting ‘Solid’ Financial Finish for 2021 (UPDATED)

Union Pacific (UP) reported third-quarter 2021 operating revenues of $5.566 billion, up 13% from the 2020 period and up 1% from 2019, as part of its Oct. 21 earnings announcement.

Commentary

Labor Leaders Putting Members’ Lives at Risk

Call it the Twilight Zone of reality when three rail labor unions embrace the convictions of extreme-right public figures Tucker Carlson (Fox News), Republican Governors Greg Abbott (Texas) and Ron DeSantis (Florida), and Republican Senators Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rand Paul (Kentucky) and oppose vaccine mandates intended to protect society against the deadly COVID-19 virus and its Delta variant.

Commentary

UP Testing Autonomous Cranes

You’ve heard of self-driving vehicles. How about self-operating cranes?

Commentary

Decision Handed Down in UP-Metra Dispute

Judge pronounces common carrier obligation for “commuter rail” dead.

Diane Duren Joins Savage Board

Diane K. Duren, a former Union Pacific executive, is now on the Savage Board of Directors.

Gonzales Appointed TTCI’s Next President

Kari Gonzales is the new leader of Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI); the Board of Directors selected her following nearly three months of service as acting President.

Feud Over Proposal to Regulate Private Railcar Handling

Associations representing private railcar owners are rebutting responses to their request that the Surface Transportation Board institute a rulemaking updating the demurrage and accessorial rules governing the railroads’ use and handling of their equipment.

Commentary

I Am UP: Nathan McKinney and Shaun Bateman

Most locomotives departing Jenks Locomotive Shop in North Little Rock, Ark., fit a mold: polished, armor-yellow titans ready to haul freight across Union Pacific’s 23-state network. But there are others. Here’s the story of two carmen who paint complex commemoratives like the UP No. 1979 We Are ONE Employee Resource Group (ERG) Locomotive.

STB: Five Class I’s Revenue Adequate for 2020

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has found five of the seven U.S. Class I railroads to be revenue adequate for 2020: BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Soo Line (the U.S. affiliate of Canadian Pacific) and Union Pacific.

Intermodal Briefs: Sasser, Savage/UP

Sasser Family Companies (Sasser) is acquiring Singapore-based global container lessor Falcon Lease Holdings Pte. Ltd. and its group of companies. In addition, Savage has opened Idaho’s first intermodal rail terminal.

LOAD MORE