Union Pacific to Cut More Services

Laramie, Wy – Union Pacific Railroad says it is further limiting service amid record shipping demand and crew shortages.
In a letter to customers posted on its Web site, U-P Executive Vice President of Marketing Jack Koraleski says new actions will
include creating an allocation system to schedule intermodal and other shipments.
It also will temporarily limit rock and aggregate materials shipments from Texas through the 23-state U-P system.
The nation's largest railroad had been troubled with slow trains
and service delays since last fall. The moves are targeted for the
peak season from mid-July to early November.
The railroad says it also will consolidate some automobile and
chemical trains, and regulate volume of selected agricultural
commodities.
The letter hints further service cuts are possible. It says if
demand for freight transportation continues to surge into 2005 and
the railroad approaches physical capacity limits in key corridors,
it will refine methods to mange the flow on its network.