(Union Pacific issued the following on July 13, 2009.)
OMAHA, Neb. — Trains will run more efficiently and motorists will spend less time at crossings as a result of nearly $27 million in track improvements made by Union Pacific Railroad to its Benton-to-Gorham, Ill., line.
When the project is complete, crews will have removed and installed nearly 43,000 ties and more than 32 miles of rail, spread nearly 20,300 tons of rock ballast to ensure a stable roadbed, replaced eight switches, the machines that guide a train from one track to another, and renewed road surfaces at 62 crossings. Work began replacing the rail June 26 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-August. The ties will be replaced in October. Crossing surface replacement began in May and is scheduled to be completed in September.
Union Pacific invested nearly $240 million for capital projects in Illinois in 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 trains are four times more fuel efficient than trucks. Motorists also benefit from reduced congestion on America’s highways since a single train can remove up to 300 trucks off our roads.