UP

Officials from the CSX TDSI terminal (New Boston, Mich.) were recently presented an award for the Highest Quality Review Score at the Association of American Railroads’ Damage Prevention and Freight Claims Conference. (CSX Photograph)

Class I Briefs: CSX, UP, CSX/NS, CPKC/CN

A CSX Total Distribution Services Inc. (TDSI) terminal in Michigan earned an Association of American Railroads (AAR) quality award. Also, Union Pacific (UP) is named a 2023 VETS Indexes 4-Star Employer, and will be the exclusive rail service provider for a new industrial rail park in Buckeye, Ariz.; Vertical Cold Storage closed on its acquisition of MWCold, an operator of two temperature-controlled warehouse facilities in central Indiana, one of which is served by CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS); and Avalon Advanced Materials purchased an industrial site in Thunder Bay, Ontario, with existing Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CN rail services, for its planned midstream lithium-hydroxide processing facility.

Union Pacific Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales Kenny Rocker

UP’s Rocker Issues State of the Railroad Report

“As we round out June and officially head into summer, I’m encouraged by the progress the team has made to provide a better customer experience for you,” Union Pacific (UP) Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales Kenny Rocker told customers in a June 20 railroad status report. “The network continues to remain fluid as we build upon the service improvements that we’ve made over the past couple of months. Car velocity across the network has exceeded 200 miles per day for the ninth consecutive week, driving better on-time performance for you.”

Photos clockwise from upper left: Union Pacific (UP) Conductor Ronnie Fisher and his wife, Yvette, aboard a UP dome lounger; with his family in Rome in 2005 are daughter Raven, Ronnie, daughter Reve, and Yvette; receiving recognition at the 50-year honorees ceremony held at the UP Center on May 17 are Chairman Lance Fritz (left), Ronnie and Executive Vice President-Operations Eric Gehringer. (Caption and Photographs Courtesy of UP)
Commentary

50-Year UP Railroader Ronnie Fisher: ‘My Regular Passengers Became My Friends’

In 1970, I worked for the Chicago Police Department as a Community Service Aide (CSA) in a pretty rough neighborhood where I resided. It was a special program to prepare candidates for becoming police officers. CSAs provided a wide range of services, including canvassing the neighborhood, giving insight to the police force concerning issues observed in the community, and providing service to the elderly and others in need.

Operation Gratitude shared in a June 12 Facebook post: “We’re less than a week from our Christmas in July assembly with CSX! We will be on-site in Jacksonville to assemble 7,500 Care Packages for Service Members deployed overseas.” (Photograph Courtesy of Operation Gratitude via Facebook)

Class I Briefs: CSX, UP

Volunteers will assemble 7,500 care packages for U.S. troops this month on behalf of CSX and national nonprofit Operation Gratitude. Also, Union Pacific (UP) Manager-Train Operations Nick Sahinen earns the railroad’s 2023 Chairman’s Environmental Award.

UP Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jennifer L. Hamann

UP Revises 2Q, Full-Year 2023 Operating Ratio Forecast

Union Pacific’s (UP) added labor expense this year, combined with lower business volumes and increased operating costs, “will likely result in a full-year 2023 operating ratio that exceeds 2022 levels,” according to the Class I railroad’s June 13 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.

CSX has donated $5 million to help transform the B&O Railroad Museum in celebration of B&O’s bicentennial anniversary in 2027. Pictured: B&O Railroad Museum Executive Director Kris Hoellen (left), CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs (center) and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. (CSX Photograph)

Class I Briefs: CSX, CPKC, UP

CSX donates $5 million to the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Md. Also, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) reports its commitment to developing a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target aligned with a 1.5⁰C future and supporting the global economy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050; and Union Pacific’s (UP) Training team earns a 2023 BEST Award from the Association for Talent Development.