UP
UP hosted U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer on Jan. 14 at its state-of-the-art Training Center and Harriman Dispatching Center in Omaha, Neb., where she was shown firsthand the “innovative and world-class” training that goes into developing the railroad’s highly skilled workforce, “expected to grow with the creation of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad,” according to the Class I. UP and NS have proposed a landmark merger to create the nation’s first coast-to-coast railroad, which they estimate “will lead to the creation of approximately 900 net new union jobs to meet anticipated growth in rail demand.”
The tour is part of Secretary Chavez-DeRemer’s 50-state ‘America at Work’ listening tour that began last April to promote economic development and job creation.
“It is an honor to be a part of Secretary Chavez-DeRemer’s impressive nationwide tour and to talk about growing and developing America’s workforce,” said UP CEO Jim Vena. “It also gave me a chance to showcase the men and women who are the backbone of America’s supply chain and the extensive safety and operating training they undergo to work on a modern, high-tech railroad.”
Chavez-DeRemer toured both UP’s Training Center and the Harriman Dispatching Center, which serves as the railroad’s central nervous system, dispatching trains and crews 24/7 across the Class I’s 23-state network.
“Union Pacific is helping power our economy by investing in the skilled workforce that keeps our supply chains moving, and I enjoyed seeing that commitment up close as part of my 50-state America at Work listening tour,” said Chavez-DeRemer. “I appreciate their efforts to strengthen our skilled workforce and keep America competitive for decades to come.”
The day ended with Vena giving Chavez-DeRemer a chance to see UP’s newest commemorative locomotive, No. 1616 Abraham Lincoln, which honors the Class I’s founder and will be on tour this year to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
NS
NS has joined the Smart Freight Centre, a global nonprofit dedicated to more sustainable logistics. This partnership, the Class I says, “underscores NS’s commitment to sustainable rail and building a greener supply chain.”
Both organizations, NS says, share a common goal: lowering emissions and improving efficiency across freight transportation. By collaborating with the Smart Freight Centre, NS says it is “reinforcing its pledge to help customers meet their climate goals.”
The Smart Freight Centre co-founded an organization that brought together industry leaders and freight stakeholders to develop standards and tools for how the heavy transport industry reduces supply chain emissions. That work helped create the framework to which NS’ own RailGreen program aligns, the Class I noted.
As part of its membership, NS will be included on the Global Logistics Emissions Council, which drives widespread, transparent and consistent calculation and reporting of emissions, and the Clean Cargo group in which NS will learn and share best practices.
“Together, Norfolk Southern and Smart Freight Centre are paving the way for a cleaner and more resilient supply chain. Rail is already the most sustainable way to move freight over land, and our collaboration with the Smart Freight Centre allows us to better meet our customers’ sustainability goals,” said NS Chief Sustainability Officer Josh Raglin.”
“Partnership is key to advancing sustainable shipping. By engaging with maritime collaborators and cargo owners, we’re reducing supply chain emissions and delivering smarter logistics solutions that benefit our customers and the environment,” said NS EVP and Chief Commercial Officer Ed Elkins.
