UP boosts train speed on Modesto, Calif. rail line

Union Pacific Railroad has increased train speed from 40 mph to 60 mph on a 4-mile stretch between Plaza Parkway and River Road in Modesto, Calif., according to a statement from the company.    Union Pacific Railroad has increased train speed on a 4-mile stretch in Stanislaus County, Calif. following recent track upgrades, according to a statement from the company.
   Beginning Nov. 15, the Omaha, Neb.-based Class I railway will speed trains up from 40 mph to 60 mph between Plaza Parkway and River Road in Modesto, Calif.
   UP said it has invested $11.7 million for Modesto-area track improvements over the past ten years, meeting or exceeding all applicable Federal Railroad Administration standards. The company plans to invest $121.6 million in 2016 to improve transportation infrastructure in California, including $104 million in track maintenance.
   “Increased train speeds typically reduce motorist wait time at crossings and help Union Pacific more efficiently deliver the goods American businesses and families use daily,” the company said.