Union Pacific Railroad added 15 new Focus Sites to its network, in order to provide businesses ease of access to the railroad’s 32,000-mile rail network.
In an announcement on Monday, the railroad said Focus Sites are large-scale development sites for custom-bult warehouses or industrial facilities. The sites, located in eight different states, included 12 that were located on short line railroads, the company said. The move will allow Union Pacific to concentrate its resources, effectively manage logistics and provide more targeted services.
“Our partnerships with short line railroads are helping to expand our network’s reach while providing businesses easier and faster access to our 23-state network,” Kenny Rocker, executive vice president for marketing and sales at Union Pacific, said. “With the help of short lines, shippers will have greater access to both domestic and global markets, including Mexico, Canada and some of the nation’s largest ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach.”
In all, the railroad has 39 Focus Sites across its network including the 15 new ones in Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington, Wisconsin, Oregon and Texas.
“Union Pacific’s Focus Site program is a tremendous benefit to short line railroads and the communities they serve,” Matt Cundiff, president of Ironhorse Resources Inc., a transportation company operating short line railroads, said. “By including short line-served properties, Union Pacific is spurring local economic growth and making it easier for businesses to connect to rail and reach national and global markets.”