UP ends rail embargo at Eagle Pass; execs visit southern border

Union Pacific Railroad has lifted its embargo on rail traffic moving through the gateway at Eagle Pass, Texas.

The announcement followed an embargo implemented last week after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security closed part of the U.S.-Mexico border to rail traffic as a result of a congestion of migrants wishing to enter the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection ended the rail traffic suspension at midnight Sept. 23.

Meanwhile, UP CEO Jim Vena, President Beth Whited and other company executives traveled to the southern border on Sept. 22 to view the impact the migrant crisis is having on the railroad’s operations. The goal of the visit was to see the situation first hand, understand its impact and find ways to get trains moving again, according to UP's Inside Track newsletter.

Twenty-four trains spanning 168,700 feet, including about 2,400 cars weighing a total of 240,000 tons, were being held on the north and southbound sides of the border. The business mix at the interchange includes agricultural, food and beverage products, automotive vehicles, consumer goods, and other industrial commodities, UP officials said.

The railroad also announced it took the following actions:
• donated $100,000 to the Eagle Pass mayor to use as he sees fit to address the complex issues the town is facing;
• staged trains that were already en route to alleviate additional congestion once the gateway reopens;
• identified alternative routes for some customers where feasible;
• reached out to congressional, state and local elected officials, business allies and industry associations, sharing the urgency of the situation and the impact on the U.S. economy; and
• encouraged customers to reach out to their trade organizations and elected leaders for additional intervention.