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[CNJRoss]

UP Customer News:

 

Upcoming Papal Visit to Affect El Paso-Area Operations

Announcement Number: CN2016-3

Posted Date: February 5, 2016

 

To Our Customers,

 

On February 17, Pope Francis will be performing Mass in Ciudad Juarez, which is located in north-central Mexico, just across the border from El Paso, Texas. At this time, it is estimated that up to 1 million people will attend the mass on Mexico's side of the border and another 500,000 to 600,000 in the United States. Because of the proximity to Union Pacific operations in the El Paso area, we will be closing our border crossing at that site from Tuesday, Feb. 16, through Wednesday, Feb. 17. Border crossings will resume on Thursday, Feb. 18 at midnight. During the same time period, operations also will be limited at local border yards and at industry served off those yards.

 

Our priority during this unique event is to provide a safe environment for our employees, customers and the communities we serve. Customers with traffic interchanging to and from Mexico at the border location should expect some delays during this period. We apologize for any inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience and understanding.

 

Thank you for your business. Please contact the National Customer Service Center or your Union Pacific representative with any questions.

[CNJRoss]

UP news release:

Union Pacific Railroad Urges Public Safety During Upcoming Papal Visit

Omaha, Neb., February 10, 2016

 

With large crowds expected for the February 17 Papal Mass in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, just across the Rio Grande river from El Paso, Texas, Union Pacific urges all drivers and pedestrians to remember to be safe when they come in contact with railroad tracks. Walking along the tracks and parking vehicles near or on tracks can present significant safety risks to the public and is illegal. Crossing tracks, whether on foot or in a vehicle, is legal only at designated crossings. To help keep the public safe, Union Pacific will be posting additional “No Parking” signs along its rights of way, and will increase the number of Union Pacific police officers patrolling railroad properties.

 

To serve its customers and deliver the goods Texans need and use every day, Union Pacific will maintain normal train traffic on its main lines that run east and west across the northern portion of El Paso. Rail traffic will be suspended at border crossing February 16-17. Rail yards can be extremely unsafe for those without proper safety equipment and training. To protect the public and keep pedestrians from traversing Union Pacific property, Union Pacific is erecting fencing around its facilities.

 

El Paso serves as a freight traffic gateway. Union Pacific carries vital cargo from the West Coast to cities such as Houston, Dallas and as far as Chicago and beyond. Between 35 and 50 or more trains per day typically travel through El Paso carrying goods such as automobiles, building materials, grain, beer and other consumer goods.

 

"Our priority during this unique event is to provide a safe environment for our employees, customers and the community," said Larry Wenko, Union Pacific director - Public Safety. "While we will continue to honor our commitment to our customers across the country, we want to do so in as safe a manner as possible. And we are reaching out to the public to ask them to do their part as well."