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(The following story by Chuck Lentz appeared on the Grand Island Independent on June 26.)

HASTINGS, Neb. — The chronically hours-late eastbound Amtrak trains across Nebraska may soon become a thing of the past.

Amtrak’s California Zephyr usually runs hours behind schedule across Nebraska on its way to Chicago, but an agreement announced last week between Amtrak and the Union Pacific Railroad is designed to bring that to an end.

Although Zephyr trains in Nebraska use BNSF tracks, their lateness is reportedly due to “slow orders,” or speed restrictions, affecting the trains as they use U.P. tracks crossing Nevada and Utah.

A summer maintenance schedule effective immediately for the Zephyr shows the eastbound trains arriving in Hastings exactly one hour later than the official time in recent previous schedules 2:57 a.m. instead of 1:57 a.m.

“This agreement defines in detail the maximum number of minutes of ‘slow order’ delay allowable on each Amtrak route operated on Union Pacific, while Union Pacific makes track improvements that will increase service reliability and satisfaction in the long term,” said Paul Vilter, Amtrak assistant vice president for host railroads.

“This agreement is instrumental in helping our crews complete the necessary track maintenance that will further enhance safe and timely railroad operations in these corridors as well as improve ride quality,” said Tom Mulligan, U.P.’s director of passenger train operations.

Since the new schedule also shows the trains leaving the San Francisco Bay area about two hours earlier than in previous schedules, the official time between California and Central Nebraska is effectively lengthened by three hours.

The schedule shows only small changes in Central Nebraska times for westbound Zephyr trains.

As U.P. completes track work, some re-shortening of the schedule is possible later this year, and small changes are expected through the end of 2009, according to an Amtrak press release.

“Throughout this time, Union Pacific has committed to use the extra time to significantly improve on-time performance,” Vilter said.