Union Pacific Railroad Reminds Drivers to Use Caution at Railroad Crossings While Traveling This Memorial Day Weekend

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May 24, 2012, 11:28 ET

OMAHA, Neb., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Railroad reminds drivers to use caution at railroad crossings while traveling in their vehicles this Memorial Day weekend.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110304/LA59497LOGO)

"With the Memorial Day weekend being one of the busiest vehicle travel days during the year, we want drivers to use caution when they cross railroad tracks and safely arrive at their destinations," said Robert Morrison, Union Pacific assistant vice president-chief of police.

"It can take a mile or more for a train to stop, and, by the time a locomotive engineer sees a vehicle on the crossing, it is too late to stop," said Dale Bray, Union Pacific director – public safety.

Union Pacific reduced grade crossing incidents by 37 percent across its rail network since 2001. The railroad is committed to public safety through various outreach channels such as community events, media, Union Pacific Railroad police, employee resource groups and Operation Lifesaver. The UP CARES (Union Pacific Crossing Accident Reduction Education and Safety) public safety initiative brings together communities in a collaborative and caring effort to promote railroad grade crossing and pedestrian safety.

UP CARES activities include:

Grade crossing enforcement with local, county and state law enforcement agencies;
Safety trains that provide local officials a firsthand look at what locomotive engineers see daily while they operate trains through a community; and
Communication blitzes that educate the community at events or media outreach.

While there has been a more than 80 percent reduction across the rail industry in crossing collisions since 1972, tragically, 265 people died and 980 were injured in 2011 as a result of a grade crossing collisions throughout the United States, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

For more information about grade crossing safety visit ibrakefortrains.com.

About Union Pacific
It was 150 years ago that Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act of July 1, 1862, creating the original Union Pacific. One of America's iconic companies, today, Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP), linking 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail and providing freight solutions and logistics expertise to the global supply chain. From 2000 through 2011, Union Pacific spent more than $31 billion on its network and operations, making needed investments in America's infrastructure and enhancing its ability to provide safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible freight transportation. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers and emphasizes excellent customer service. Union Pacific operates competitive routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways.

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SOURCE Union Pacific