advertisement

---

Union Pacific Railroad recently noted increased capacity at the Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Mexico, rail border crossing because of an hours-of-operation test authorized by U.S. and Mexican customs officials.

Beginning April 16 and concluding July 15, the test calls for extending the hours that custom officials inspect rail cars. During the test's first weekend, an additional 800 rail cars — or 67 percent more than the current weekend average — passed through the gateway, UP said.

UP's second-largest Mexican gateway, Eagle Pass is where the Class I interchanges with Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V. The majority of the gateway's traffic is finished vehicles, vehicle parts, beer and grain.

Meanwhile, UP later this month will begin increasing train speed from 30 mph to 49 mph on a 16-mile stretch of its line between Necedah and Wyeville, Wis. The Class I will increase speed by 10 mph on May 23 and 9 mph on May 30.

UP recently invested $4.7 million to upgrade track between Necedah and Wyeville. Completed in mid-April, the project included the installation of rail and seven switches, and replacement of road surfaces at 16 grade crossings.