New rail investments on the way to California from Union Pacific

Union Pacific Railroad plans to drop $137 million to bolster California’s rail infrastructure in 2015.

The multi-million dollar investment is intended to increase safety and rail operating efficiency. The investment is necessary as freight railroad companies such as Union Pacific build and maintain their own track without the benefit of taxpayer funding.

"We constantly evaluate our customers' needs to make targeted investments that enhance our efficiency and deliver the goods American businesses and families use daily," Scott Moore, Union Pacific vice president of public affairs, said. "Continuing to aggressively invest in our infrastructure is an important element in Union Pacific's unwavering safety commitment."

The investment will be divided into various project categories with $117 million dedicated to railroad track maintenance, $9 million for better signaling systems and another $11 million to work on the state’s railway bridges.

Some of the state’s track is slated to be completely replaced. The rail line between Butte and Plumas counties, for instance, will receive $24 million to replace nearly 37 miles of track.

Another $8 million will replace more than 50,000 railroad ties and install nearly 23,000 tons of rock ballast between East Mojave and Wash. Eighteen road crossings on that line also will be repaired.

The project is part of Union Pacific’s wider investment of $4.2 billion intended to increase rail safety across the 23 states connected by the carrier.