Federal inspectors mentioned they discovered an alarming variety of defects within the locomotives and railcars Union Pacific was utilizing on the world’s largest railyard in western Nebraska this summer time, and the railroad was reluctant to repair the issues.
Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose wrote a letter to UP’s prime three executives Friday expressing his concern that the defects symbolize a “important danger to rail security ” on the Union Pacific railroad.
Bose mentioned the 19.93% defect charge on rail vehicles and the 72.69% charge for locomotives that inspectors present in July and August are each twice the nationwide common. However the letter didn’t element what sort of defects inspectors discovered within the Bailey Yard in North Platte, and there are a myriad of federal guidelines.
“The compliance of the rolling inventory (freight vehicles and locomotives) on the UP community is poor, and UP was unwilling or unable to take steps to enhance the situation of their gear,” Bose mentioned in his letter.
Bose questioned whether or not the current layoffs of 94 locomotive craft workers and 44 carmen throughout the Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad that is likely one of the nation’s largest left UP with out sufficient individuals to finish the mandatory repairs.
Kristen South, a spokeswoman for Union Pacific, mentioned Sunday that the layoffs weren’t an issue, and the railroad stays dedicated to security.
“Union Pacific won’t ever compromise on the protection of our workers. Security is all the time our first precedence, and we’re reviewing and can tackle the considerations raised by the FRA,” South mentioned.
Railroad security has been a key concern nationwide this yr ever since one other railroad, Norfolk Southern, had a practice derail and catch hearth in jap Ohio in February. That East Palestine derailment prompted regulators and members of Congress to name for reforms, however few important modifications have been made since then.
South mentioned the railroad has applicable staffing ranges with sufficient capability to have “a buffer to permit for the pure ebb and stream nature of our enterprise.”
These layoffs that UP introduced late final month got here after the FRA wrapped up its inspection, they usually symbolize a tiny fraction of the railroad’s workforce that numbers greater than 30,000.
Union Pacific’s new CEO Jim Vena simply took excessive spot on the railroad final month. Union Pacific has a community of 32,400 miles (52,000 kilometers) of monitor in 23 Western states.