Record Trainloads of Coal Moving to Nation's Utilities
07 December 2006 - 2:14AM
PR Newswire (US)
Union Pacific Sets Records for Monthly and Daily Performance OMAHA,
Neb., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With winter energy needs
nearing their peak, Union Pacific is moving record trainloads of
coal from Wyoming's Southern Powder River Basin (SPRB) and
coal-producing mines in Colorado and Utah. During November, Union
Pacific moved 20 million tons of coal from the SPRB and Colorado
and Utah, an increase of nearly 8 percent over November 2005. The
railroad posted its third best average daily performance in the
SPRB, averaging 35.7 trains per day. The movement of Colorado and
Utah coal posted its best daily train numbers of the year in
November, averaging 11.6 trains per day. Union Pacific also set
train size records during the months of October and November. UP
trains moving coal out of the SPRB averaged 15,135 tons each -- an
increase of 200 tons over last year's annual average. A new
wheel-changing process at Bailey Yard in North Platte, Neb., helped
UP achieve the increased tonnage record. Wheels are changed without
removing cars from a train, saving handling and processing time.
The enhancement has the potential to increase train tonnage out of
the SPRB by more than 750,000 tons next year with no additional
train starts. "These records and process improvements are just two
more examples of how committed Union Pacific employees are to
meeting our customers' needs," said Jim Young, president and CEO.
"Every day our employees are on the job to meet the nation's demand
for coal, food, construction equipment, and other items. And we
will continue to look for new ways to handle rising demand."
Additional rail line improvements are expected to boost the
railroad's coal capacity in 2007. The completion of a third main
line south of Reno Junction, Wyo., and five new train landing
tracks just completed at the mines will help boost capacity on the
Joint Line owned by UP and BNSF to more than 375 million tons.
During 2006 the Joint Line is expected to support more than 350
million tons of coal. Future improvements, including construction
of a third main line north of Reno Junction, and a fourth main line
south of Nacco Junction, Wyo., are expected to boost Joint Line
capacity to more than 400 million tons per year. Grading is already
underway on both of these projects and completion is expected in
late 2007. Jobs at Union Pacific Currently, Union Pacific has job
openings at many locations throughout its 23-state operating
system. Opportunities are available in train service, skilled
disciplines (e.g., diesel mechanics and electricians) and
management. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit
http://www.up.com/ and click on "Jobs at UP." About Union Pacific
Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America's leading
transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union
Pacific Railroad, is the largest railroad in North America,
covering 23 states across the western two-thirds of the United
States. A strong focus on quality and a strategically advantageous
route structure enable the company to serve customers in critical
and fast growing markets. It is a leading carrier of low-sulfur
coal used in electrical power generation and has broad coverage of
the large chemical-producing areas along the Gulf Coast. With
competitive long-haul routes between all major West Coast ports and
eastern gateways, and as the only railroad to serve all six major
gateways to Mexico, Union Pacific has the premier rail franchise in
North America. For further information, contact James Barnes at
(402) 544-3560. DATASOURCE: Union Pacific Railroad CONTACT: James
Barnes, +1-402-544-3560, for Union Pacific Railroad Web site:
http://www.up.com/
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