(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on December 2, 2009.)
Later this month, Union Pacific Railroad plans to boost train speed on a 26-mile portion of a line between Eau Claire and Fairchild, Wis.
Beginning on Dec. 11, the Class I will increase speed 10 mph from 30 mph to 40 mph; on Dec. 18, the railroad will boost speed another 10 mph to 50 mph.
Train speed had been limited on the line because of track and operating constraints. But UP recently spent $9 million to improve track, such as by replacing rail and 25,000 ties, installing seven switches and replacing road surfaces at 37 grade crossings. The railroad completed the project in late October.