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On Friday, Union Pacific Railroad unveiled the EC-5, an $8.5 million state-of-the-art track inspection vehicle — the Class I’s second self-propelled unit that can electronically inspect track at speeds up to 70 mph.

A three-person crew will operate the EC-5 six days a week. Built by Plasser & Theurer Corp. at its Austrian plant, the 90-foot-long vehicle features 11 computer systems that gather real-time data on track surface, rail wear and tunnel size from laser measuring devices. Onboard computers use Global Positioning System technology to pinpoint defects and data variances.

In addition to the two high-tech units, UP operates a fleet of 22 ultrasonic rail-flaw detection vehicles.