UP wraps major track project near Phoenix, crew marks safety milestone

Union Pacific Railroad's Engineering Rail Gang 9001 near Aztec, Arizona, southwest of Phoenix, recently completed a major rail replacement project tied to UP's $3.3 billion infrastructure investment planned for 2026.

One of six systemwide groups responsible for yard and mainline rail work, Rail Gang 9001 operated safely and efficiently throughout the project. The team installed 8 miles of new rail in 16 days while keeping customer freight moving, UP officials said this week in a press release.

UP CEO Jim Vena visited the site as the team installed its last 8,890 feet to complete the project. During the visit, he met several members of the system rail gang, including three fathers who have the unique opportunity to work alongside their sons on the same crew.

The work required 24 pieces of heavy equipment to remove old rail, mill down the ties, install new tie plates and lay new rail, followed by spiking and anchoring to finish the job. To deal with cool winter weather, the crew used a rail-heating process to bring the steel to its neutral temperature during installation.

Also, the crew recently reached a major safety milestone: eight years injury free.

“Eight years without an injury says a lot about this team,” said Jason Steiner, system assistant foreperson. “It’s not just about rules — it’s about discipline, communication and watching out for each other.”