Railroad News

Union Pacific Corp. posted a 24 percent decline in second-quarter operating revenue and a 28 percent decline in net income as the Class I faced a 20 percent drop in volume due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Class I reported second-quarter 2020 net income of $1.1 billion, or $1.67 per diluted share, compared with $1.6 billion, or $2.22 per diluted share, a year ago.

Union Pacific Corp. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Fritz earlier this week posted on the railroad's website a statement about the recent racial injustice events that spurred protests throughout the nation over the past week.

Fritz began by noting that UP employees formed the Black Employee Network 40 years ago to help company leadership understand and respond to the company's African American employees.

Customers were notified late last week that Union Pacific Railroad is ceasing operations of Cold Connect, a Loup Logistics service that moves refrigerated products from the West Coast to UP's warehouse in Rotterdam, New York.

On May 8, employees were informed that the service would permanently close and most Cold Connect-related positions have been eliminated, said UP spokesman Tim McMahan in an email.

Union Pacific Chief Financial Officer Rob Knight will retire on Dec. 31, the Class I announced yesterday. Jennifer Hamann will succeed him effective Jan. 1, 2020.

Knight joined UP in 1980 and held numerous leadership positions prior to being named CFO in 2004. During his tenure as CFO, he led many initiatives that helped the company earn the highest market capitalization of any North American transportation company, UP officials said in a press release.

Chicago commuter railroad Metra and Union Pacific Railroad have agreed to cancel a previously announced schedule change on the UP West line, which would have adjusted departure times of some trains on the line by Sept. 3. 

UP determined that the proposed changes on UP West could result in conflicts between commuter and freight trains along the busy rail corridor, Metra officials said in a press release.

Union Pacific Railroad yesterday announced that it has implemented positive train control (PTC) on 1,081 route miles in the second quarter, bringing its PTC-operated route miles to 14,678, or 86 percent. 

UP now is running PTC operations in 22 states, and is working with freight and passenger railroads to implement PTC on its remaining 2,384 route miles by 2020, UP officials said in a press release. 

Union Pacific Railroad reported today that 2019 second-quarter net income rose 4 percent to $1.6 billion, or $2.22 per diluted share, compared with $1.5 billion, or $1.98 per diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago.

UP's operating income rose 8 percent to $2.3 billion and the company's operating ratio (OR) improved to 59.6 percent from 63.0 percent compared with second-quarter 2018.

Union Pacific Railroad's latest annual report on sustainability includes for the first time cybersecurity efforts taken to protect the Class I's infrastructure and assets.

UP yesterday released its 2018 "Building America Report," the company's 10th annual sustainability report detailing progress toward its social, economic and environmental initiatives. The report highlights corporate strategy changes and impact on UP's customers, investors, employees and communities.

Oregon's two U.S. senators are raising concerns with Union Pacific Railroad's reported plan to eliminate nearly 200 jobs from the Class I's Hinkle Rail Yard in Hermiston.

In a letter sent this week to UP Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Fritz, the senators wrote that the railroad's decision to reduce jobs at the yard and close the Hinkle supply warehouse and mechanical locomotive shop "will devastate this rural community by hamstringing the economic opportunities and stability of the entire region."