UP
A new destination terminal for aggregate is open for business in UP’s Denison Rail Yard in Texas, the product of two years of work and collaboration between Dolese Bros. Co. and UP, the Class I recently announced.
Dolese, an Oklahoma-based construction materials company with roots dating back to before statehood, held a grand opening ceremony April 9 for the new facility that will import rock from Oklahoma into North Texas by rail.
“This terminal represents a significant milestone for Dolese as we continue to invest in infrastructure that supports long-term growth,” said Mark Helm, CEO of Dolese Bros. Co. “Our partnership with Union Pacific allows us to efficiently serve the growing North Texas market while strengthening regional supply chains that are critical to building communities.”
The new facility, the Class I says, is a win-win for both UP and Dolese as it provides “greater utilization of the Denison Rail Yard while allowing Dolese to reach new customers in the booming North Texas market.”
“We are delighted to welcome Dolese to our rail yard in Denison,” said UP Senior Vice President-Industrial Products Jacque Bendon. “This project is a perfect example of what two companies can create when they come together in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation to imagine the possible.”
UP and Dolese worked closely with the City of Denison and local constituents to ensure transparency around the project’s growth opportunities, with both companies participating in an open house to give community members a chance to learn more about the project and ask questions.
In related news, UP and Rocky Mountain Steel Mills on April 15 announced that they have reached a new, seven-year contract for the domestic production of steel rails, “underscoring UP’s clear commitment to buying the majority of its rail from a United States manufacturer,” the Class I noted.
Rocky Mountain Steel, located in Pueblo, Colo., is the only remaining dedicated rail production facility in the United States and one of the largest producers of steel products in North America. Steel made for UP, and all Rocky Mountain Steel customers is produced by members of the United Steelworkers (USW).
UP has been using steel rail from the mill at Rocky Mountain Steel since the early 1890s. This renewed commitment by UP, the Class I says, “underscores their commitment to Rocky Mountain Steel, now operating under new ownership and management, as well as the skilled workers of the USW and the historic steel community in Pueblo.” The agreement ends any pending legal disputes between the companies, as UP says it has withdrawn its previously filed lawsuit in Nebraska.
Rocky Mountain Steel expects to begin operations this year at a new, state-of-the-art long rail mill, constructed with a more than $1 billion investment in domestic steel production. The new mill, UP says, “will ensure Pueblo will remain the only dedicated steel rail mill in the United States, operating one of the most advanced rail production lines in the world.”
“We appreciate the longstanding relationship with Rocky Mountain Steel, its dedicated workforce and their collective commitment to domestic steel manufacturing. The new long-rail mill is a significant step forward in American manufacturing that supports Union Pacific’s focus on delivering safe, reliable service for our customers,” said UP CEO Jim Vena. “As Union Pacific pursues its merger with Norfolk Southern to create the nation’s first transcontinental railroad, our ability to partner with Rocky Mountain Steel becomes even more critical as our merger is positioned to strengthen the nation’s manufacturing core as well as domestic job growth.”
“The new contract reinforces the one-of-a-kind partnership between Union Pacific Railroad and Rocky Mountain Steel, a relationship that traces its roots back to the 1890’s and has been benefiting American workers every day since,” said Doug Matthews, CEO of Orion Steel, the parent company of Rocky Mountain Steel Mills. “This mill is an essential part of America’s steel transportation infrastructure, and its continued existence shows that our nation offers railroads large and small the very best product, made by the very best steelmakers in the world. I thank Union Pacific leadership for making that case crystal clear via this new long-term contract.”
“I’ve been in the steel industry for 37 years, and Union Pacific’s unique understanding of our market and their steadfast belief in U.S. steel manufacturing speaks to their role as an iconic American company,” Matthews added.
The new rail mill at the Pueblo facility will deliver “extraordinary” long-rail capability, producing 100-meter (328-foot) lengths of premium rail. The long rail produced at the new facility “will bring significant efficiency gains to the industry, as it requires 80% fewer welds than standard 80-foot rails, improving track safety and reliability for major railroads, like UP,” the Class I noted. The new rail mill is powered by a dedicated 1,800-acre solar farm, making it the world’s largest solar-powered steel mill.
The nearly 140-year lineage between UP and Rocky Mountain Steel has supported Western U.S. growth, infrastructure expansion, and industrial stability, according to the Class I. “The expansion of western railroads, led in large part by UP, created the economic conditions that enabled the growth of domestic steel production in the Western United States, including the mill at Rocky Mountain Steel, which emerged as a critical regional supplier, helping meet industrial needs more efficiently than more distant eastern steel producers,” the Class I said. UP and the mill at Rocky Mountain Steel collaborated during World War I to significantly increase steel production, with raw materials transported by UP to the mill at Pueblo and finished steel products transported out of Pueblo by UP to support war efforts.
NS
NS has been named the rail provider for Bob’s Discount Furniture’s new distribution center in Cleveland, Ohio, the Class I recently announced via LinkedIn.
“Our team delivered an integrated rail solution designed to serve Bob’s specific supply chain needs, simplify operations, and improve reliability,” said NS.
“That’s what sets NS apart: not just the strength of our network, but the people behind it. From our International Intermodal Sales & Marketing and Customer Logistics teams building the relationship, to Intermodal Operations showcasing the strength of our Maple Heights terminal, to Network Design and Transportation delivering a best-in-market service product, this win reflects what we do best — working together to deliver for our customers. When you partner with NS, you have our full team behind your business. We look forward to supporting Bob’s continued growth and keeping their freight (and furniture) moving for years to come!”
BNSF
The Home Depot has named BNSF the 2025 Rail Carrier of the Year, the Class I announced in a social media post. J.B. Hunt was recognized as Home Depot’s Intermodal Carrier of the Year.
CN
In March, CN’s Mays Yard Transport team reached the three-year injury-free mark, the Class I announced via LinkedIn.
“Mays plays a critical role in our network, acting as a major interchange point, intermodal terminal, automotive facility and continuous flatbed sorting center,” said CN.
“Achieving this milestone in such a diverse operating environment reinforces a simple truth: safety is built one shift, one maneuver, one conversation at a time.”
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