(Union Pacific issued the following on June 5, 2009.)
SPRING, Texas – Trains will run more efficiently and motorists will spend less time at crossings as a result of nearly $13 million in track improvements made by Union Pacific Railroad to its line from Roanoke to Tower 55 in Fort Worth, Texas.
When the project is complete, crews will have removed and installed more than 45,000 ties and spread 100,000 tons of rock ballast to ensure a stable roadbed and renewed the road surfaces at 38 crossings. Work on the 30-mile stretch of railroad tracks is scheduled to be completed in July.
Union Pacific invested more than $400 million in capital projects in Texas in 2007 and 2008. During 2009, Union Pacific plans to invest $1.7 billion in strengthening the track infrastructure across its more than 32,000-mile system. This extensive investment in the railroad’s track helps ensure Union Pacific has the capability to offer quality, safe and cost-effective service to meet its customers’ current and future transportation needs.
Improved and additional rail capacity benefits everyone. It allows freight rail service to grow, helping to build a cleaner environment – freight train emissions are one-third as much as trucks. Motorists also benefit from reduced congestion on America’s highways since a single train can remove up to 300 trucks off our roads.