UP improves Donner Pass route

UP improves Donner Pass route    Union Pacific Railroad opened its Donner Pass route to domestic double-stack intermodal container freight traffic last week, marking the completion of a 12-month project designed to move customer products over a shorter, faster and more efficient route.
   The construction project included:
   ' Improving tunnel clearances along 18,000 feet in 15 restricted tunnels between the California cities of Rocklin and Truckee.
   ' Upgrading 30 miles of system signals, allowing signal technology to control train movement instead of radio communications between dispatchers and locomotive engineers.
   ' Removing track, lowering the floor and reinstalling track in two tunnels.
   ' Installing rock bolts for added stability in five tunnels.
   Tunnel clearances have been modified to allow for double-stack trains up to 20 feet, 9 inches in height.
   'This project will benefit our customers by improving our intermodal transit times compared to the current Feather River Canyon route,' said John Kaiser, Union Pacific vice president and general manager of intermodal. 'Completing this project will help us better serve our customers while supporting economic growth in Northern California and at the Port of Oakland.'
   UP's Donner Pass route is up to 73 miles shorter and three hours faster than the Feather River Canyon route, depending upon the destination.