Union Pacific Borrows Tracks for Ballast Train Fixes
Published Date: 5/16/2025
Notice
Summary
Union Pacific Railroad is getting temporary permission to use about 52 miles of BNSF Railway tracks from May 30 to December 31, 2025. This lets UP run special ballast trains to help fix and maintain their own tracks. Workers affected by this change will have job protections, and the deal won’t cost anyone extra right now.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Affected Railroad Employees Get Job Protections
If you are a railroad employee affected by Union Pacific’s temporary use of BNSF tracks, you will be protected by the job-protection conditions set out in prior decisions: Norfolk & Western Railway--Trackage Rights--Burlington Northern, Inc., 354 I.C.C. 605 (1978); Mendocino Coast Railway--Lease & Operate--California Western Railroad, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980); and Oregon Short Line Railroad--Abandonment Portion Goshen Branch, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). These protections apply for the period the temporary trackage rights are in effect, from May 30, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
No Immediate Cost To the Public
The notice states that the temporary trackage rights arrangement will not cost anyone extra right now. The rights take effect on or after May 30, 2025, and expire on December 31, 2025.
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