Union Pacific planning to lay off 475 employees by the end of 2018

OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific announced Tuesday it will eliminate 475 employees and 200 contracted positions by the end of the year.

Headquartered in Omaha, the freight railroad employs 42,000, operating 8,500 locomotives over 32,000 route-miles in 23 states, according to the company’s website. It is unclear how many of the jobs will be eliminated in Omaha because the company said the cuts would come across the system. 

In the last decade, Union Pacific has invested approximately $34 billion in its network and operations, according to its website.

In September, the company announced a re-focused strategy for 2020. 

“We are not currently meeting customer expectations,” Lance Fritz, Union Pacific’s chairman, president and chief executive officer stated in the announcement.  “Unified Plan 2020 is our path forward to secure our place as the industry leader in safety, service and financial performance.”

Courtesy: KMTV