(Union Pacific issued the following on February 19.)
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad will increase train speed 10 mph by Feb. 19 for certain freight trains on a nearly quarter-mile segment of railroad tracks in San Antonio, Tex. Speed will increase from 30 mph to 40 mph at the grade crossings at West Ashby Place and West Russell Place and from about 20 mph to 30 mph on grade crossings at Laredo, Leal and Ruiz Streets.
Recent improvements on this section of track permit operating at higher speeds. Union Pacific has raised train speeds through numerous communities across its rail network over the last several years following track improvements and has found that not only do the trains operate more efficiently, but motorists are not stopped at the crossings as long. The change is expected to improve public traffic flow and grade crossing safety as statistics show that more highway-rail grade crossing collisions occur at slower train speeds.