Trains of All Lengths Keep Economies on Track
Union Pacific's Executive VP of Operations, Eric Gehringer, addresses recent news about train length in a narrative essay. He highlights that trains of all lengths are important for the economy, carrying essential goods and materials. Gehringer emphasizes that freight railroads invest billions annually to grow and protect infrastructure without taxpayer funding. He notes that while average maximum train length has increased, serious derailments on Union Pacific's network declined 26% in 2023 compared to 2019.
Gehringer explains that train length is about network fluidity, with less than 3% of Union Pacific trains over 15,000 feet, and 73% at 9,000 feet or less. The company uses advanced technology to optimize train assembly and routing. Union Pacific is working with local communities to address safety concerns, investing in infrastructure improvements, and collaborating on grade separation projects. Gehringer argues that limiting train length could increase crossing incidents and emphasizes the company's commitment to safety and community relationships.
L'Executive VP delle Operazioni di Union Pacific, Eric Gehringer, affronta le recenti notizie riguardanti la lunghezza dei treni in un saggio narrativo. Sottolinea che i treni di tutte le lunghezze sono importanti per l'economia, trasportando beni e materiali essenziali. Gehringer enfatizza che le ferrovie merci investono miliardi ogni anno per sviluppare e proteggere l'infrastruttura senza finanziamenti pubblici. Nota che, mentre la lunghezza massima media dei treni è aumentata, i deragliamenti gravi sulla rete di Union Pacific sono diminuiti del 26% nel 2023 rispetto al 2019.
Gehringer spiega che la lunghezza del treno riguarda la fluidità della rete, con meno del 3% dei treni di Union Pacific che superano i 15.000 piedi, e il 73% a 9.000 piedi o meno. L'azienda utilizza tecnologie avanzate per ottimizzare l'assemblaggio e la pianificazione dei treni. Union Pacific collabora con le comunità locali per affrontare le preoccupazioni relative alla sicurezza, investendo in miglioramenti infrastrutturali e collaborando a progetti di separazione dei livelli. Gehringer sostiene che limitare la lunghezza dei treni potrebbe aumentare gli incidenti ai passaggi a livello e sottolinea l'impegno dell'azienda per la sicurezza e le relazioni con la comunità.
El vicepresidente ejecutivo de operaciones de Union Pacific, Eric Gehringer, aborda las noticias recientes sobre la longitud de los trenes en un ensayo narrativo. Destaca que los trenes de todas las longitudes son importantes para la economía, transportando bienes y materiales esenciales. Gehringer enfatiza que las ferrocarriles de carga invierten miles de millones anualmente para desarrollar y proteger la infraestructura sin financiación de los contribuyentes. Señala que, aunque la longitud media máxima de los trenes ha aumentado, los descarrilamientos graves en la red de Union Pacific disminuyeron un 26% en 2023 en comparación con 2019.
Gehringer explica que la longitud del tren se trata de la fluidez de la red, con menos del 3% de los trenes de Union Pacific que superan los 15,000 pies, y el 73% a 9,000 pies o menos. La compañía utiliza tecnología avanzada para optimizar el ensamblaje y la ruta de los trenes. Union Pacific está trabajando con las comunidades locales para abordar las preocupaciones de seguridad, invirtiendo en mejoras de infraestructura y colaborando en proyectos de separación de niveles. Gehringer argumenta que limitar la longitud del tren podría aumentar los incidentes en los cruces y enfatiza el compromiso de la empresa con la seguridad y las relaciones comunitarias.
유니언 퍼시픽의 운영 부사장 에릭 게링저는 기차 길이에 대한 최근 뉴스를 서술형 에세이에서 다룹니다. 그는 모든 길이의 기차가 경제에 중요하다고 강조하며 필수 품목과 자재를 운반한다고 말합니다. 게링저는 화물 철도는 매년 수십억을 투자해 인프라를 성장시키고 보호한다고 강조하며 세금으로 지원받지 않는다고 언급합니다. 그는 평균 최대 기차 길이는 증가했지만, 유니언 퍼시픽 네트워크에서 심각한 탈선 사고는 2019년에 비해 2023년에 26% 감소했다고 말합니다.
게링저는 기차 길이는 네트워크의 유동성과 관련이 있다고 설명하고, 유니언 퍼시픽의 기차 중 15,000피트를 초과하는 것은 3% 이하이며, 9,000피트 이하의 기차는 73%라고 밝혔습니다. 회사는 기차 조합 및 경로 최적화를 위해 첨단 기술을 사용하고 있습니다. 유니언 퍼시픽은 안전 문제를 해결하기 위해 지역 사회와 협력하고, 인프라 개선에 투자하며, 수준 분리 프로젝트에 협력하고 있습니다. 게링저는 기차 길이를 제한하면 교차로 사고가 증가할 수 있다고 주장하며, 회사의 안전 및 지역사회 관계에 대한 입장을 강조합니다.
Le vice-président exécutif des opérations de Union Pacific, Eric Gehringer, aborde les récents événements au sujet de la longueur des trains dans un essai narratif. Il souligne que les trains de toutes les longueurs sont importants pour l'économie, transportant des biens et des matériaux essentiels. Gehringer insiste sur le fait que les chemins de fer de fret investissent des milliards chaque année pour développer et protéger l'infrastructure sans financement des contribuables. Il note que bien que la longueur maximale moyenne des trains ait augmenté, les déraillements graves sur le réseau de Union Pacific ont diminué de 26% en 2023 par rapport à 2019.
Gehringer explique que la longueur des trains est une question de fluidité du réseau, avec moins de 3 % des trains de Union Pacific dépassant 15 000 pieds, et 73 % à 9 000 pieds ou moins. L'entreprise utilise une technologie avancée pour optimiser l'assemblage et le routage des trains. Union Pacific travaille avec les communautés locales pour résoudre les préoccupations en matière de sécurité, investissant dans des améliorations d'infrastructure et collaborant à des projets de séparation des niveaux. Gehringer soutient que limiter la longueur des trains pourrait augmenter les incidents aux passages à niveau et souligne l'engagement de l'entreprise envers la sécurité et les relations communautaires.
Eric Gehringer, der Executive Vice President für Betrieb bei Union Pacific, befasst sich in einem erzählerischen Essay mit den aktuellen Nachrichten zur Länge von Zügen. Er hebt hervor, dass Züge aller Längen wichtig für die Wirtschaft sind und essentielle Waren und Materialien transportieren. Gehringer betont, dass Frachtbahnen jährlich Milliarden investieren, um die Infrastruktur zu entwickeln und zu schützen, ohne Mittel von den Steuerzahlern zu nutzen. Er merkt an, dass obwohl die durchschnittliche maximale Zuglänge zugenommen hat, schwere Entgleisungen im Netzwerk von Union Pacific im Jahr 2023 im Vergleich zu 2019 um 26% zurückgegangen sind.
Gehringer erklärt, dass die Zuglänge mit der Fluidität des Netzwerks zu tun hat, wobei weniger als 3% der Züge von Union Pacific über 15.000 Fuß lang sind, und 73% bei 9.000 Fuß oder weniger. Das Unternehmen nutzt fortschrittliche Technologie, um das Zusammenstellen und den Routings von Zügen zu optimieren. Union Pacific arbeitet mit den lokalen Gemeinschaften zusammen, um Sicherheitsbedenken zu adressieren, investiert in Infrastrukturverbesserungen und kooperiert bei Projekten zur Niveau-Trennung. Gehringer argumentiert, dass eine Begrenzung der Zuglänge die Vorfälle an Bahnübergängen erhöhen könnte und betont die Verpflichtung des Unternehmens zu Sicherheit und Gemeinschaftsbeziehungen.
- Serious derailments on Union Pacific's network declined 26% in 2023 compared to 2019
- Union Pacific invests billions annually to grow and protect infrastructure without taxpayer funding
- Only 3% of Union Pacific trains are over 15,000 feet long, with 73% at 9,000 feet or less
- Union Pacific has invested over $34 billion in the last 10 years to strengthen infrastructure and build sidings
- The company has collaborated on 114 grade separation projects over the last five years
- Nearly 40% of Union Pacific crossing incidents last year involved motorists stopped on tracks
Union Pacific Chief Operating Officer responds to recent news with facts and stats regarding train length and crossings
Trains of all lengths keep economies on track
By Eric Gehringer,
Executive Vice President – Operations, Union Pacific Railroad
I’m writing to reflect on recent stories and reports about train length—and to share some facts about railroading, stats about length and safety, and the specific actions Union Pacific has taken to work with community partners.
As a child I loved train sets, arranging the cars by size, color and type, connecting straight tracks with loops, and managing the flow of traffic with my friends. Trains bring people together. Indeed, one of Union Pacific’s most popular “monster” trains is the Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. When the Big Boy comes to town, tens of thousands travel to small communities across the country helping local economies flourish, celebrating the promise of our past and potential of our future.
Facts about Railroading
Trains were essential in the building of our nation and continue to be a vital part of the global economy. Freight trains carry the materials to build our homes and fuel to warm them. They carry the vehicles we use to commute to work, so we can take care of our families. They carry the food, water and appliances that we need. Trains of all lengths carry these things and more.
I’ve been a railroader for nearly 20 years, and we take great pride in our role moving the supply chain. Railroaders work all hours of the day and night, in all kinds of weather—rain, snow, wind and wildfire—to serve our customers and care for our families.
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Freight railroads invest for growth and are not funded by taxpayers. We invest billions each year and approximately
$10 million dollars - A Union Pacific train travels around the earth approximately 49 times before a derailment occurs on the main line or in a siding.
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While average maximum train length grew, serious derailments on Union Pacific’s network declined
26% in 2023 compared with 2019.
Driving can be frustrating—and made more so by trucks or trains. Perhaps you’ve been on a highway sandwiched by monster trucks, hoping to safely move away from them. Maybe you’ve been in bumper-to-bumper traffic because of the volume of trucks on a highway—or because of an accident involving a massive truck that flipped over. And maybe you’ve also experienced waiting at a rail crossing, as a long train goes by.
These situations are frustrating. Yet waiting for a light at a train crossing is less common and more controlled than the truck scenarios described above.
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According to data from the Federal Railroad Administration and
U.S. Department of Transportation, freight rail is 17 times safer than trucks per gross ton miles. -
The average rail car can hold three to four truckloads worth of freight and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to
75% compared to trucks. - A single train keeps roughly 300 trucks off our nation’s already congested roads.
Train Length is About Fluidity
On my first day at the railroad, I saw train crews in the yard rely on printed paperwork to do their jobs. Today, that information is at their fingertips on mobile devices. Technology has changed the way we railroad, from how we assemble a train to its length, and, yet trains are still the safest and most cost-efficient freight system in the world.
At Union Pacific, we leverage a tool called Train Builder to simulate and replicate the forces trains experience based on the terrain they travel. We use the data to determine how a train will handle while en route, where cars should be placed in the lineup, the number of locomotives needed and the best routes. It’s also a valuable training tool for employees.
Armed with this knowledge, Union Pacific trains are built to support the natural ebb and flow of our customers’ needs and keep our 23-state network fluid. Imagine placing your online grocery order. If you place separate orders for a few things at a time (rather than your entire list at once), it takes longer for the store to get your order ready, and other customers are impacted with longer wait times, too. The same is true of trains, short trains congest the network.
But, there is a balance.
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Less than
3% of Union Pacific trains are over 15,000-feet, and when we operate them, we do so in specific areas designed to handle them. In fact, we haven’t operated a 20,000-foot train in 2024. -
Roughly
73% of Union Pacific trains are 9,000-feet or less—that’s about 5 laps around a football field. - A 9,000-foot train takes about 4 minutes to go through a crossing at 25 miles per hour – that’s about the time it takes to listen to your favorite song.
Taking Action: Addressing Safety, the Environment and Local Economies
Caring for the environment, listening to communities and serving customers to keep the economy moving isn’t simple. As a father of three, I know that there isn’t a one-size-fits all approach to parenting, and there isn’t one for a complex issue like addressing blocked crossings either. We are working with local communities across our network to identify critical crossings that might impact emergency response and safety needs.
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Over the last 10 years, Union Pacific invested more than
$34 billion - We've collaborated with public partners to construct 114 overpasses and underpasses (grade separations) over the last five years to eliminate grade crossings, and have numerous other projects planned and under construction.
- We also have formal and effective escalation processes, beyond the phone number found on the blue signs located at each crossing, to mitigate blocked crossing risks and help local first responders.
Limiting train length will result in more trains passing through crossings. This will increase opportunities for train-vehicle accidents, often due to distracted driving and drivers who ignore warning signs and go around gates. In fact, nearly
Our relationships with local communities, where our employees live and work, are a vital part of providing safe and efficient rail services. At the end of the day, we all share the same goals: to be the safest mode of transportation in the
ABOUT UNION PACIFIC
Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at www.up.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240919419824/en/
Union Pacific Media Contact:
Kristen South at 402-544-3435 or kmsouth@up.com
www.up.com
www.facebook.com/unionpacific
www.twitter.com/unionpacific
Source: Union Pacific
FAQ
What percentage of Union Pacific trains are over 15,000 feet long?
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How has the rate of serious derailments changed for Union Pacific between 2019 and 2023?
