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2/6/2024
Union Pacific Railroad hauled a record 352,000 carloads of rock in 2023, exceeding the previous record it set in 2006 by a few hundred carloads, and increasing overall carloads by 23% compared with 2021 and 9% compared with 2022.
UP made an effort over the past few years to capitalize on the construction boom in Texas and the Gulf Coast region by finding new locations to "land" or place rock trains and identify new quarry sources to feed the landing spots, according to UP's Inside Track blog.
"Union Pacific identified the anticipated growth in advance and positioned ourselves to capitalize on the residential and commercial increase in Texas to meet our customers’ needs," said Kevin Klein, UP's general director of marketing and sales.
The hauled rock is used for a variety of construction purposes, including pouring concrete foundations for new homes and businesses and to build and maintain roads and highways. It is also is used in the construction of new LNG facilities in the Gulf Coast.
A high percentage of the rock that UP transported last year originated and terminated in the southern part of the railroad’s network, between San Antonio/Austin, Houston and the Dallas area. Rock trains typically pull 100 or more cars, which is the equivalent of 400 semitrailer trucks.