Up Outlines Plan To Clear Congestion

Union Pacific Corp. aims to clear the congestion on its central and southern corridor routes within 90 days, the company said in a recovery plan it filed with the federal Surface Transportation Board.

The Dallas-based parent for the Union Pacific Railroad is experiencing severe backups in part because of its difficulty integrating Southern Pacific Rail Corp., which it acquired last year. Union Pacific told the agency Wednesday it is sending customers to competitors, diverting stalled trains onto other rails, and temporarily hiring retirees to help ease the strain.

Traffic on the railroad’s central corridor, stretching from Chicago to Oakland, Calif., should return to acceptable levels in 30 days, the company said. Service from Memphis, Tenn., and New Orleans through Texas and into Southern California should be normal within 60 to 90 days.

UP Chairman Dick Davidson said the recovery plan “will produce steady improvement over the next several weeks.”