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While they continue trying to solve year-long service difficulties, Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation officials are taking time to provide some help to people who are going through much harder times: Floridians. On Monday, the Class Is sent two trains from Houston toward the Sunshine State to provide free fuel for post-Hurricane Frances emergency operations.

The 20- and 24-car dedicated trains are expected to arrive at Sanford and Tampa distribution points today. UP moved the trains to interchange points in New Orleans and Memphis, Tenn.; CSXT will transport the fuel to Florida.

Forty cars are carrying about 1.8 million gallons of diesel fuel and four cars, about 114,000 gallons of gasoline. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and state of Florida requested the shipments to alleviate fuel shortages caused by hurricanes Frances and Charley.

"Throughout our history, Union Pacific has stepped up and assisted communities in times of need," said UP Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dick Davidson in a prepared statement.

CSX Corp. subsidiary TRANSFLO is providing storage facilities in Sanford and Tampa, specialized equipment to transfer the fuel, and additional workers from Charlotte, N.C., Richmond, Va., and Savannah, Ga., to assist Florida employees. Last month, CSXT provided the state of Florida free rail transportation after Hurricane Charley.

"Our company and our employees have certainly felt the full brunt of these storms, and we are proud to help our neighbors in need," said CSX Chairman and CEO, and CSXT President Michael Ward. "We are coordinating this relief in advance of Hurricane Ivan and securing our railroad for its landfall immediately behind this train."