Union Pacific’s business now includes the transportation of finished vehicles, auto parts, and
truck trailers. UP is the largest automotive carrier west of the
Mississippi River. The Railroad’s extensive franchise serves
vehicle assembly plants and connects to West Coast ports
and the Port of Houston to accommodate import and export
shipments. UP’s network directly accesses all six U.S./Mexico
rail gateways, providing expedited handling of the growing
cross-border automotive traffic. Intermodal and automotive
import traffic benefits from excellent service in competitive
long-haul routes connecting the West Coast ports and eastern
gateways, particularly along the Sunset Corridor from Los
Angeles to El Paso. Additionally, time-sensitive domestic
intermodal shippers benefit from the ramp-to-ramp and service UP provides across its network. In 2013, premium
traffic represented 45 percent of the Company’s volume and 29
percent of freight revenue.
Durant, Iowa, named after Thomas Durant
Thomas C. Durant, by building the Union Pacific, caused these towns to blossom: