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This year, Union Pacific Railroad plans to spend $1.3 billion on maintenance-of-way (MOW) projects across its 33,000-mile system.

The Class I will install 3.7 million wood, 355,000 concrete and 215,000 composite ties; replace 1,055 miles of rail; surface 7,800 miles of track; and spread 6.8 million tons of ballast.

As part of its 2005 MOW program, UP also will spend an additional $295 million to increase capacity on the Sunset Route in Arizona and Nebraska; and $220 million to build support tracks for a San Antonio Toyota plant, and ethanol plants in Iowa and Minnesota, and intermodal yards in Salt Lake City and Wilner, Texas. In addition, the railroad will construct eight side tracks in Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, California, Iowa and Arizona.

The MOW program is part of UP’s more than $2 billion capital budget for 2005. The Class I also plans to acquire 315 new locomotives and more than 4,000 rail cars through short or long-term leases.

Editor’s note: In its April issue, Progressive Railroading will provide extensive MOW coverage on Class Is, regionals and short lines, and passenger railroads.