"Union Pacific Faces Alarming Number of Defects, Federal Inspectors Discover"

Federal inspectors found an alarming number of defects in Union Pacific's locomotives and railcars at its railyard in Nebraska this summer, with defect rates twice the national average. The railroad was reluctant to address the problems, prompting concerns about rail safety. The recent layoffs at Union Pacific were questioned as a potential cause for the lack of repairs, but the company maintains that it has appropriate staffing levels. Railroad safety has been a nationwide concern, but few significant changes have been made.