"Our investments in track are essential for Union Pacific to operate safely in the community and provide quality service for our 166 San Antonio customers," said Shane Keller, Union Pacific's general superintendent of the San Antonio Service Unit.

On Union Pacific's line serving City Public Service's J.T. Deely Power Plant, crews will replace and install 22,200 ties; spread 7,200 tons of rock ballast to ensure a stable roadbed; replace seven miles of rail and upgrade the driving surfaces at 40 grade crossings. This project began in late-November and is scheduled to be completed in mid-February 2005.

A rail line that runs from downtown north of I-10, out to C. W. Anderson Loop to the rock quarries, also will receive an upgrade. Crews will replace and install 21,000 ties; spread 7,200 tons of rock ballast; replace four miles of rail in curves and upgrade the driving surfaces at 55 grade crossings. This project will begin in January and is scheduled to be completed by the end of February 2005.

Union Pacific's major capacity projects for 2005 in the San Antonio area include:

• Construction of a bridge and track leading into the new Toyota facility.
• A second main-line track on Union Pacific right-of-way between East and Kirby yards.
• Several South San Antonio yard improvements, such as constructing seven new tracks, lengthening two tracks and installing connections to allow trains to go from one track to another.

Union Pacific also will make improvements to three area railyards. Crews will replace and install 57,000 ties; replace nearly 19 miles of rail and replace 30 switches that guide rail cars from one track to another.