Skip to main content
Jan
21

BNSF budgets nearly $3 billion for 2021 capex

Jan
21

UP posts Q4 2020 results, increases capex for 2021

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 1/21/2021 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Corp. today reported fourth-quarter 2020 net income of $1.38 billion, or $2.05 per diluted share, near the previous year's Q4 results of $1.4 billion, or $2.02 per diluted share.The Q4 2020 results include a previously announced $278 million pre-tax, non-cash impairment charge. Without that charge, the Class I's adjusted income was $1.6 billion, or $2.36 per diluted share."These outstanding results demonstrate the true potential of our franchise as we leveraged all three profitability drivers simultaneously — volume growth, productivity and pricing — to produce record fourth-quarter results," said UP Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Fritz in a press release.UP's operating revenue declined 1% to $5.1 billion in the quarter compared with the same period in 2019. Business volumes, as measured by total revenue carloads, climbed 3%. Premium volumes rose, while bulk was flat and industrial traffic declined, UP officials said.In addition, quarterly freight revenue fell 1%, as volume growth and core pricing gains were offset by decreased fuel surcharge revenue and a less favorable business mix.UP reported a 61% operating ratio for the quarter compared with 59.7% in Q4 2019. When adjusted for the impairment charge, the Class I's operating ratio was 55.6% — an all-time quarterly record."While the economic outlook for 2021 remains uncertain, we will build off our solid 2020 performance to produce continued strong productivity through operational excellence," said Fritz. "We expect our enhanced service product will support both solid core pricing gains while also increasing our share of the freight transportation market."Also today, UP reported it plans to spend $2.9 billion on capital expenditures this year, up from $2.8 billion in 2020. The 2021 capital plan includes $1.8 million for infrastructure improvements; $255 million for locomotives and equipment; $535 million for capacity/commercial facilities; $235 million for technology; and $80 million for positive train control/energy management systems.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 1/21/2021


Jan
21

UP posts Q4 2020 results, increases capex for 2021

Jan
20

Texas inland port transit association taps Freeland as exec director

Jan
20

MARTA names Srinath CFO, Lucek assistant GM of labor relations

Jan
20

Watco to issue private add-on offering

Jan
20

MBTA secures federal grant for North Wilmington Station improvements

Jan
20

Cando Rail names Bromley chief commercial officer

Jan
20

FTA awards grants to COVID-19 research projects

Jan
20

SCVTA CEO Fernandez to join Biden administration

Jan
20

STB: Class I workforce grew in December

Jan
19

Rail supplier news from Bombardier, Stadler, Alstom and Greenbrier (Jan. 19)

Jan
19

Great River Rail Commission reelects officers

Jan
19

USDOT issues hyperloop standards review, draft accessibility plan

Jan
19

Minneapolis Southwest light-rail construction potentially delayed

Jan
19

STB seeks short-line reps on railroad-shipper council

Jan
19

NCTD completes Phase 4 Del Mar Bluff stabilization project

Jan
19

Biden taps Trottenberg for deputy transportation secretary

Jan
19

KCS pledges to set emissions reduction target

Jan
19

KCS pledges to set emissions reduction target

Rail News Home Kansas City Southern 1/19/2021 Rail News: Kansas City Southern
By committing to the SBTi, KCS is building on steps already taken to lower its greenhouse gas emissions.Photo – kcsouthern.com

Kansas City Southern has submitted a commitment letter to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) pledging to set a science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.

The science-based target will align with what climate scientists say is needed to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, KCS officials said in a press release.

Continue reading