UP Doing Precision Scheduled Railroading

[Blazeman]

Uncle Pete announced earlier this week a new ops plan implementing Precision Scheduled RR'ing (PSR) to be rolled out in phases over the next 2-3 years.  The idea is to appeal to Wall Street as they project it will bring their operating ratio (OR) to the 55% level (currently in the low 60's).  Right now, UP, believe it or not, is predicted to have the second HIGHEST OR at the end of this year. Wall Street delights in this kind of thing as they anticpate people losing livelihoods, assets being reduced and improved fuel efficiency.

Question is if there are the right people there to get this to the finish line.  No high level execs in Omaha with history at CP, CN or CSX.  Might create movement of those operating people from those lines to UP.

UP calling this a change in thinking from "moving trains" to "moving cars."

[Spades]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/union-pacifics-cure-for-congestion-imitate-a-rival-1537353001

[C855B]

I was going to say "Hunter's ghost", but the WSJ article beat me to it.

"...appeal to Wall Street..." is right. This announcement was the only news I could find explaining the nearly 5% jump in stock price yesterday.

[learmoia]

FWIW.. We're already seeing changes starting October 1st.. The local is still delivering cars, but manifest trains will be doing pickups 3 days a week.  But yesterday we had an extra crew pickup what was available after delivering a unit train. 

Anything that gives better service to customers is good... ~Ian
 

[glakedylan]

we had what seemed to be an unusual pattern of traffic here on Saturday
while only here for 3.5 months, if I counted correctly (was not at home for short periods of time)
there were 7 NS trains coming through, all headed west on the Columbia branchline
several were 4 locomotives lead and what appeared to be mostly empty freight
saw a person bearing a PRR t-shirt railfanning down at the river
perhaps it was someone from here?
anyway, glad to be back in a place where there is railroad activity!
sincerely
Gary

[Blazeman]

Clarifications coming out.  No changes to hump yards are in the plans as of now.

[learmoia]

Hopefully they are picking out the best parts of Harrison's ideas to move traffic effectivly, but not nessisarily the cut throat parts to minimize costs and crews.

~Ian

[nkalanaga]

I hope it works better than their takeover of SP.

[kc9jts]

snip
Question is if there are the right people there to get this to the finish line.  No high level execs in Omaha with history at CP, CN or CSX.  Might create movement of those operating people from those lines to UP.

snip

Remember that Cindy Sanborn (from CSX) is a Regional Vice President for UP now; just not in Omaha.