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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Union Pacific To Locate Railroad Classification Yard In Robertson County, Texas

10/03/2014
Union Pacific plans to locate its railroad classification yard in Robertson County, Texas, designed to strengthen The Lone Star State as a national freight transportation hub, create jobs and deliver significant economic stimulus to the region.

The facility, known as a classification yard, will function by sorting rail cars by destination on separate tracks from inbound trains to make multiple outbound trains, company officials explained. The outbound trains will be fueled, inspected by a mechanical crew, and then depart to local and regional destinations. Seven different Union Pacific rail lines converge in Southern Robertson County, connecting the markets of Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, the Gulf Coast and the rest of East Texas.

"This rail facility will connect the largest and fastest growing Texas markets to the state's existing freight transportation infrastructure," said Brenda Mainwaring, Union Pacific Vice President of Public Affairs. "The development of this project will create more than 1,400 construction jobs over a two year period. We estimate 200 permanent jobs will be needed to operate the site once it is completed. At full operation, this yard is also expected to contribute an additional 184 indirect regional jobs."

According to the UP officials, “Texas is experiencing exponential population growth, resulting in increased demand for building materials and consumer goods. Union Pacific's new rail facility will help meet the region's growing freight transportation needs while taking over-the-road trucks off the highways. One Union Pacific train can carry the same freight as up to 280 trucks. And, according to EPA data, trains are four times more fuel efficient than trucks.”

One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail. From 2004-2013, Union Pacific invested approximately $30 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes; Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal.

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