Safety Comes First—Every Day, in Every Community

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Safety remains our top priority. We’re committed to making sure every railroader goes home safe to their family—and protecting our communities.

The Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern combination unites two safety-first cultures and accelerates technologies that reduce incidents and enhance operational precision. The result: a safer, innovative and more resilient coast-to-coast freight network.

Reducing Injuries, Incidents, Highway Congestion, Emissions

Safest way to move goods over land1
One intermodal train can take 550 trucks off the nation’s highways
Railroads have lower employee incidence rates than trucking, airlines, agriculture and construction2
Union Pacific improved injury rates by 23% and derailments by 20%3
Norfolk Southern cut mainline accidents by 40% and reduced overall injuries4

Safety You Can Count On

Decades of investment and innovation make rail the safest way to move freight on land. Our focus: protecting people, communities and the future of freight.

Employee Training

Nearly 90 hours of training averaged per employee annually

Community Outreach

10K first responders trained; local communities engaged5

Smart Technology

Tools that help enhance decisions and lower risk

Infrastructure Investment

$5.6B each year to strengthen tracks, trains and crossings5

Safer Rail Through Innovation

The combined railroad will expand advanced safety technology to address issues before they become incidents, while also making operations more precise, efficient and reliable.

Train Builder balances in-train forces for safer movement

NetControl provides real-time data and insights to safely optimize performance

Mobile NX lets employees safely switch tracks remotely

Automated inspections use cameras and sensors to spot potential issues early

Semi-automated equipment enables safer unloading of rail materials

Safety isn’t just part of what we do—it’s who we are. Together, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are building a safer, smarter and stronger rail network for employees, customers and communities.

  1. “Freight Rail Facts & Figures,” Association of American Railroads, accessed Sept. 29, 2025.
  2. “Freight rail is one of the safest places to work in America,” Association of American Railroads, accessed Sept. 29, 2025.
  3. “2024 Sustainability Metrics & Frameworks Report,” Union Pacific Railroad, last modified May 2025, accessed Aug. 22, 2025. “Norfolk Southern Celebrates 2024 Safety Achievements,”
  4. “Norfolk Southern Celebrates 2024 Safety Achievements,” Norfolk Southern Corporation, last modified Jan. 25, 2025, accessed Aug. 22, 2025.
  5. “Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to Create America’s First Transcontinental Railroad” Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Corporation press release, last modified July 29, 2025, accessed Aug. 22, 2025.