UP crews work to clear track, restore service post-Hilary

Union Pacific Railroad crews are making progress in the Class I's recovery from Tropical Storm Hilary’s impact on rail operations in Southern California.

Between Banning and Indio (in the Yuma subdivision), mud continues to flow back onto tracks, while operating and engineering teams are evaluating bridge work that will be required. Service has been restored near Mojave and north of Fontana, UP officials said in customer advisory notices.

Hilary made landfall in California on Sunday night.

"Although we have returned service to some of the impacted segments, it will take multiple days to work through the backlog of trains," UP advised. "For safety purposes, these line segments will have temporary slow-order speed restrictions placed upon them."

In addition, the railroad will need to realign locomotive power and crews to the region, and "customers should expect extended delays through the week," UP officials said.

Meanwhile, UP’s network along the Gulf Coast in Texas experienced high winds and heavy rainfall yesterday as Tropical Storm Harold made landfall. A 5-mile stretch of UP's track was under water in Corpus Christi.

UP established a hurricane planning and recovery page on its website to inform customers of best practices to follow during hurricane season.