2009 Service Updates
Updated Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 2:00 p.m.
Flood Gates Reopen in New Orleans, Rail Operations Resume
As anticipated, the City of New Orleans reopened the flood gates along the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal this morning, allowing all rail traffic into and out of the city.
Crews have begun to move the UP trains that were held, pending the outcome of the storm. Customers with shipments moving through this area should anticipate 24- to 48-hour delays as crews work off the backlog of traffic for interchange to eastern connections.
Updated Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 8:00 a.m.
Rail Operations Anticipated to Resume This Morning Through New Orleans
A weakened Tropical Storm Ida made landfall this morning along the Alabama coast at Dauphin Island, with 45 mph winds. On Sunday, the storm prompted a state of emergency in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida as it moved into the southern Gulf of Mexico.
The City of New Orleans had ordered the floodgates closed along the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, blocking all rail traffic into and out of the city. In preparation of the storm, Union Pacific staged all traffic en route to New Orleans.
With the landfall of the storm, we anticipate that the New Orleans flood gates will be opened later this morning, allowing rail traffic through the city.
Customers with shipments moving through this area should expect some delays as operations resume and crews work off the backlog of traffic.
Updated Monday, November 9, 2009 - Noon
Union Pacific Makes Preparations for Tropical Storm Ida
Union Pacific is making preparations for the arrival of Tropical Storm Ida, expected to make landfall on Tuesday morning, November 10, along the Texas and Louisiana coasts. On Sunday, the storm prompted a state of emergency in Louisiana as it moved into the southern Gulf of Mexico. The City of New Orleans has ordered the floodgates closed along the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, blocking all rail traffic into and out of the city.
While we do not anticipate damage to the railroad, UP is currently staging all traffic en route to New Orleans, pending the outcome of the storm.
We will continue to post updates as information becomes available.
Updated Monday, November 2, 2009 - 9:00 a.m.
Operations Resume Across Midwest and South
Union Pacific rail operations are returning to normal in those areas across the Midwest and South impacted by weather conditions late last week. Crews continue to work off the backlog of traffic as heavy snow and winter weather dissipated across Wyoming and Western Nebraska over the weekend.
Repairs have been completed to track damaged by flooding, impacting service on our north/south corridors from Kansas, Missouri and Illinois into and out of Texas and Louisiana. Main lines around the Little Rock and Pine Bluff areas in Arkansas were most severely impacted. Operations resumed over the weekend, and crews will continue to work off the backlog of traffic across those areas today.
Updated Friday, October 30, 2009 - Noon
Weather Impacts Rail Operations Across Midwest and South
Severe winter conditions over the past 24 hours across Wyoming and Western Nebraska have impacted Union Pacific service in those areas. We are currently unable to process cars in our North Platte, Nebraska yard due to heavy snow and winds in excess of 35 mph. Customers with shipments moving through these areas should expect 24- to 48-hour delays as operations resume and the backlog of traffic is cleared.
Additionally, heavy rains across Eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas have created flooding conditions and other service interruptions which are impacting our north/south corridors from Kansas, Missouri and Illinois into and out of Texas and Louisiana. Main lines around the Little Rock and Pine Bluff areas in Arkansas have been most severely impacted. Rains are expected to continue throughout today, before moving east this evening. Customers can expect 24- to 48-hour delays in these corridors as crews work to repair damages left behind by the storms.
We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
Updated Friday, February 20, 2009 - 8:00 a.m.
Repairs Completed on CSX Bridge
Repairs to the CSX bridge damaged by fire earlier this month were completed Thursday.
Normal operations are resuming today in this corridor. All interchange traffic routed over the Memphis and St. Louis gateways during repairs will resume interchange over New Orleans.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Updated Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - 8:00 a.m.
Update - CSX Bridge Fire
Repairs to the CSX bridge damaged by fire earlier this month are expected to be completed later this week, with traffic scheduled to resume late afternoon on Friday, February 20. Until repairs are completed, UP and CSX will continue to reroute interchange traffic which normally routes through New Orleans. Manifest traffic is being rerouted through the Memphis gateway and intermodal traffic is being rerouted through the St. Louis gateway.
Customers should continue to anticipate up to 24-hour delays to their shipments moving through these corridors.
Updated Monday, February 9, 2009 - 10:00 a.m.
CSX Bridge Fire
The CSX has experienced a bridge fire this weekend between Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama affecting connecting traffic with Union Pacific over the New Orleans gateway. As repairs are made, UP and CSX are rerouting selected intermodal and manifest trains over the Memphis gateway. CSX estimates that repairs to the bridge will take approximately two weeks, with traffic resuming over the New Orleans gateway on Sunday, February 22.
While rerouting continues, customers could experience up to 24-hour delays on any traffic being rerouted via the Memphis gateway.
We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
Updated Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - 8:00 a.m.
Winter Storm Power Outages
The weather system that produced freezing rain and snow across parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois this week has caused commercial power outages in over 150 locations on our system. Union Pacific crews are currently working to place generators along the track to restore power and train operations.
The weather system is expected to move east of the Union Pacific system by noon today. Customers should anticipate up to a 24-hour delay on any shipments moving through the affected areas.
Updated Monday, January 12, 2009 - 1:00 p.m.
Pacific Northwest Operations Restored
Normal operations between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon have resumed over the weekend following flooding in the area. Crews have worked off the backlog of trains and no further delays are anticipated. Union Pacific thanks you for your cooperation as we worked to restore safe operations.
Updated Friday, January 9, 2009 - 1:00 p.m.
Winter Weather in the Pacific Northwest
Operations will resume today at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, following heavy rain and snow melt in the area. Additional delays are anticipated over the next 48 hours, as crews work off the back-log off traffic. The Seattle area is expecting additional rainfall this weekend which could further affect shipment times.
We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
Updated Thursday, January 8, 2009 - 1:00 p.m.
NoonWinter Weather in the Pacific Northwest
All Union Pacific operations between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon are currently suspended, due to rising water levels caused by heavy rain and snow melt in the area. Operations are anticipated to resume in approximately 24-36 hours. Customers should expect 48- to 72-hour delays to any shipments moving through this area, as operations resume and crews work off the backlog of traffic.
We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.