UP announces maintenance, capacity improvements

UP announces maintenance, capacity improvements    Union Pacific Railroad said it will invest $1.3 billion this year to replace 4.4 million railroad ties and make other improvements to its track system. The expenditures will include spreading 6.8 million tons of rock ballast to stabilize roadbeds and replacing 1,055 miles of rail.
   The nation’s largest railroad said it will spend an additional $295 million to increase the capacity of its Sunset Route in Arizona and in the North Platte, Neb., area. The money will also cover construction of eight new side tracks, two each in Texas and Utah and one each in Oklahoma, California, Iowa and Arizona.
   Another $220 million is budgeted for supporting industrial customers, including tracks leading to the new Toyota plant in San Antonio; intermodal yards in Wilmer Texas and Salt Lake City; and rail spurs for ethanol plants in Iowa and Minnesota.
   In addition, the company plans to acquire 315 new locomotives and more than 4,000 railcars through short or long-term leases.