Union Pacific's Vena to receive 2025 Railroad Innovator Award 

Progressive Railroading and RailTrends^® have named Union Pacific Railroad CEO Jim Vena the 2025 recipient of the Railroad Innovator Award, which recognizes an individual's outstanding achievement in the rail industry.

Vena was named UP's CEO in 2023 after serving as the Class I’s chief operating officer from 2019 to 2020 and as a senior adviser to the chairman in 2021.

Before that, Vena held a variety of leadership positions during his four-decade tenure with CN. 

“Jim exemplifies the best of what I call the ‘CN Diaspora’ and really seems to have gotten his historic railroad to achieve something that seemed just out of reach for many years — fulfill its vast potential,” says independent transportation analyst Tony Hatch, who is the program consultant for the annual RailTrends conference. “In addition, I truly appreciate his employment of what he calls ‘buffer’ (additional resources in reserve to provide resiliency and support agility) in these uncertain times.” 
 
“Jim has done what he said he’d do since taking Union Pacific’s reins, and that matters — particularly given the aforementioned uncertainty,” adds Progressive Railroading Editor-in-Chief Pat Foran. “He came to UP with a demonstrated track record of driving best-in-class operating and service results, and he continues to drive them.”

Vena began his rail career in 1977 with CN as a brakeman. He subsequently held a range of positions in the engineering, mechanical and operating departments, including a stint as a locomotive engineer. Vena rose through CN’s ranks, holding management positions in operations, marketing, strategic planning and labor relations. He served as CN’s executive vice president and COO from 2013 through 2016.

Vena currently serves as chairman of the Association of American Railroads. Previously, he was a board member of Direct ChassisLink Inc. and FedEx. He also has served on a number of railroad-associated boards.

Progressive Railroading and RailTrends previously presented Railroad Innovator Awards to Canadian Pacific Kansas City's Keith Creel (in 2024 and 2014), Norfolk Southern Corp.'s Alan Shaw, Watco’s Rick Webb, CN's JJ Ruest, CSX's Jim Foote, Kansas City Southern's Pat Ottensmeyer, AAR's Ed Hamberger, Genesee & Wyoming Inc.'s Jack Hellmann, CN's Claude Mongeau, CSX's Michael Ward, NS' Wick Moorman, UP's Jim Young, KCS' Mike Haverty, BNSF Railway Co.'s Matt Rose and CN's Hunter Harrison. 
  
Vena will receive the award during RailTrends 2025, which will be held Nov. 20-21 at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City. For more information about the event, log onto RailTrends.com.