UP “2025 was a strong year for UP. We delivered our best-ever full-year results across safety, service and operating performance, including personal injury, derailment rates, freight car velocity and terminal dwell, most of which led the industry. The team is consistently delivering at the highest levels, and I am confident that’s what we’ll continue to do,” UP’s Kenny Rocker wrote in a Jan. 29 online customer message. As part of a UP status report, Rocker provided service metrics for the week ending Jan. 23, 2026: Freight Car Velocity – 241 miles per day Train Velocity – 21.5 miles per hour Terminal Dwell – 19.5 hours “Despite significant weather over the weekend, the network remains in good shape. Aside from a few communities still without power, we expect service to return to normal by the end of the week. In those areas, we continue to use generators to power our signaling systems. Maintaining this level of performance through widespread winter conditions underscores the resilience of our team and the strength of our service product,” wrote Rocker. STB Merger Application On Jan. 16, the STB ruled that UP’s application to merge with NS was “incomplete without prejudice.” A “without prejudice” ruling means that once complete the “STB can evaluate the merits of the case without the initial, incomplete determination affecting the outcome.” The Board’s request, UP says, is “narrow and focused,” identifying the following three areas for clarification: “Full system impact analyses, including market share projections for the combined entity. “Entire merger…
