Accommodating Customer Demand

Looking across Bailey Yard at some of the 10,000 cars handled daily.

Looking across Bailey Yard at some of the 10,000 cars handled daily.

In addition to sorting cars to build new trains, Bailey Yard also accommodates a growing number of "unit" trains, which carry only one commodity to one customer. Seventy percent of the traffic through Bailey Yard is of this nature.

Up to 32 coal trains originating daily in the Powder River Basin of northeast Wyoming are good examples of unit trains, which need only inspecting and quick servicing before continuing. Thus, "run-through" tracks were constructed at Bailey to avoid delays.

Energy growth also has required construction of 10 westbound departure tracks and the coal yard, where 450 coal cars can be stored on seven spare tracks until needed to fill trains to contract length. Plans are underway to add enough track for another 1,500 cars.

Union Pacific continues to invest heavily in capital projects at North Platte in order to accommodate the demands of our customers. This demonstrates our commitment to customers and the community.