(The following story appeared on The Enterprise website on January 29.)
BEAUMONT, Texas — Union Pacific Railroad will increase speed for some freight trains from 35 mph to 50 mph and to 60 mph for passenger trains on crossings at West Park, Burton, Link and Cordrey avenues in Orange.
Starting Friday, the rail line will gradually increase train speeds 5 mph each week until the new limits are reached in early March.
“Recent track improvements on this section of track permit operating at higher speeds,” company spokesman James Barnes said in a release.
“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,” Barnes said.
“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.”