UP carrying out Iowa track improvement projects

Railway Track and Structures, June, 2004

Union Pacific will spend $20 million on track improvements between Carroll and Council Bluffs, Iowa, this Summer. Crews will replace and install 71,900 concrete ties and 13,600 wooden ties; spread 127,000 tons of rock ballast; and replace the surfaces in 32 grade crossings.

UP is moving trains off its western Iowa line to a parallel Canadian National/Illinois Central line while track improvements to UP's own line take place. CN/IC operates an average of one train per day over its line between Arion, about five miles southwest of Denison, and Council Bluffs. Union Pacific will operate up to 20 trains per day over the line through mid-July.