Federal railroad inspectors discover concerning findings.
Federal Railroad Inspectors Make Alarming Find at Union Pacific Railyard
Federal inspectors recently uncovered a concerning number of defects in the locomotives and railcars being used at Union Pacific’s massive railyard in western Nebraska. These findings have raised serious concerns about rail safety on the Union Pacific railroad.
Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose expressed his worries in a letter addressed to UP’s top executives. He emphasized that the defect rates of 19.93 percent for rail cars and 72.69 percent for locomotives, discovered during inspections in July and August, are both double the national average.
Although the letter did not provide specific details about the defects found at the Bailey Yard in North Platte, it highlighted the poor compliance of Union Pacific’s rolling stock and the railroad’s reluctance to address the issues.
Bose also questioned whether recent layoffs within the company had left Union Pacific without enough personnel to carry out necessary repairs. However, Union Pacific’s spokesperson, Kristen South, reassured the public that the layoffs were not a factor and that the railroad remains fully committed to safety.
Railroad safety has become a major concern nationwide, particularly after a train derailment and fire incident involving Norfolk Southern in eastern Ohio earlier this year. Despite calls for reforms, significant changes have been slow to materialize.
South emphasized that Union Pacific maintains appropriate staffing levels and has sufficient capacity to handle the natural fluctuations of their business. The recent layoffs occurred after the completion of the FRA inspection and represent only a small fraction of the company’s workforce, which exceeds 30,000 employees.
With Union Pacific’s new CEO, Jim Vena, taking the helm just last month, the company is determined to address the concerns raised by the FRA. Union Pacific operates an extensive network of 32,400 miles (52,000 kilometers) of track across 23 Western states.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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