SPECIAL BULLETIN:

At Least Five Major Wrecks Haunt UP

in March

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Union Pacific Train Derailments

Abound in March

March was not good to Union Pacific. In turn, Union Pacific was not good to highways and motorists, Amtrak train riders, nor to local communities along the tracks. RWU has documented at least five major derailments in March alone - one each in Texas, Kansas, and Nevada, and two in California, one in the north of the state and one in the south. In a few cases, highways were shut down, while in at least two others, Amtrak trains were forced to turn back, unable to obtain clearance through the wreckage.

The mishaps outlined below are a summary dating from March 1st to March 27th. In the space of just 27 days, Union Pacific wrecked five trains in five separate incidents, putting more than 100 rail cars on the ground, many of them and their contents completely destroyed. Thankfully, no one was injured or killed in any of these derailments.

All this comes as Union Pacific - the nation's largest Class One rail carrier - attempts to make the case that it should be allowed to absorb the nation's fourth largest railroad (Norfolk Southern) to become a mega-rail corporation of the size and power that the Robber Barons of the 19th century could only dream of. With this sort of safety record in just 27 days of March, is it really a good idea to give them even more power to run roughshod over workers, passengers, shippers, and communities? We say, HELL NO!



Train derailment near USA Parkway closes I-80 travel lane

March 27th, 2026 - 30 cars - Nevada

Crews are responding to a train derailment on Friday morning. The Storey County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), Storey County Fire, Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue (TMFR) and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a freight train derailment near USA Parkway that occurred around 6:30 a.m. on March 27. The eastbound number 2 travel lane is currently closed on I-80 near mile marker 32. Drivers are asked to watch for emergency crews, slow down and move over. Travelers should expect significant delays on I-80 eastbound. Approximately 20 to 25 box cars were derailed. There were no hazardous spills and no injuries were reported.



Reopening date unknown after train derailment damages northbound I-135

March 21st, 2026 - 10 cars - Kansas

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Work continues under I-135 in north Wichita after a train derailed on Saturday, colliding with two support pillars that hold the highway up over the railyard. Approximately ten railcars derailed around 12 a.m. on Saturday, according to Union Pacific Railroad. Trains have continued to pass through the area while the Kansas Department of Transportation works to repair the bridge and the tracks where the derailment happened. Braces have been installed where the pillars holding the bridge were knocked out.



Union Pacific Train Cars Derailment in Texas Town Causes Ethanol Leak, No Injuries Reported

March 18th, 2026 - 23 cars - Texas

RICHMOND, Texas (AP) — More than two dozen cars of a Union Pacific train derailed Wednesday morning in a Texas town near Houston, causing an ethanol leak from two of the cars that officials said didn’t pose a threat to the public. The derailment happened around 5 a.m. CDT in Richmond, a town of 13,000 people about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Houston. No injuries were reported, Union Pacific spokesperson Robynn Tysver said.Two of the derailed cars began leaking ethanol after the accident, said Fort Bend County Fire Marshal Justin Jurek. Both leaks were later contained, he said

Union Pacific Intermodal Train Derails in the California Desert

March 18th, 2026 - 20 cars - California

MECCA, Calif. — About 20 cars of a Union Pacific intermodal train derailed Wednesday in the Coachella Valley community of Mecca on Wednesday afternoon, closing a state highway and the railroad’s Sunset Route.

Cal Fire said on social media that emergency crews responded to the incident at 5:06 p.m. No injuries were reported. A hazardous materials team also responded, but the fire department said the 40 containers involved carried non-hazardous items. The incident closed State Route 111; KESQ-TV reported there was no estimate for its reopening and has some photos of the incident on its website. The National Transportation Safety Board said in a social media post today (Thursday, March 19) that it is sending a team of investigators to the accident site.

UP derailment near Dunsmuir halts Coast Starlight operations

March 1st, 2026 - 19 cars - California

DUNSMUIR, CA — Operation of Amtrak’s Coast Starlight remains disrupted following a Sunday, March 1, derailment of a Union Pacific train at the Cantara Loop near Dunsmuir. According to a local TV report, about 19 cars derailed Sunday evening. UP told the broadcaster today (Tuesday, March 3) that no hazardous materials were involved and cleanup was continuing. A Siskiyou News article says there were no reported injuries and has several photos of overturned grain hoppers. Starlight operations have been disrupted since Sunday evening, with the northbound and southbound trains departing that day being turned at Sacramento, Calif., and Klamath Falls, Ore., respectively because of the closure. On Monday, both trains were canceled in their entirety.



Railroad Workers United

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