Union Pacific Railroad Urges Hunters Not To Hunt On Or Near Tracks

People who enter railroad property can be arrested for violating trespassing laws.

File photo courtesy: Q. Madp and IraqWarHeroes.org

(ROSEVILLE, Calif.) - Union Pacific Railroad urges hunters to resist the temptation to hunt on railroad property this season. Wildlife will migrate and feed along the edges of freshly harvested fields, making these areas prime hunting spots. With many fields adjacent to Union Pacific tracks, hunters find it very tempting to hunt on or near the tracks.

"Too many people have been injured or killed trespassing on railroad property over the years. As part of our UP CARES initiative, we want to remind hunters that walking on or near railroad tracks is extremely dangerous because you never know when a train will come along," said Dennis Jenson, Union Pacific assistant vice president-chief of police.

"It can take a mile or more to stop a train, and, by the time a locomotive engineer sees you on the track, it is too late to stop," said Dale Bray, Union Pacific director – public safety. "Locomotives and rail cars overhang the tracks by at least three feet on either side of the rail. If you are too close to the tracks, you can be hit by the locomotive or a rail car," added Bray.

Union Pacific is committed to public safety through various outreach channels such as community events, media, Union Pacific Railroad police, employee resource groups and Operation Lifesaver.  The UP CARES (Union Pacific Crossing Accident Reduction Education and Safety) public safety initiative brings together communities in a collaborative and caring effort to promote railroad grade crossing and pedestrian safety.

UP CARES activities include:

• Grade crossing enforcement with local, county and state law enforcement agencies;
• Safety trains that provide local officials a firsthand look at what locomotive engineers see daily while they operate trains through a community and
• Communication blitzes that educate the community at events or media outreach. 

Hunters are not the only ones drawn to railroad tracks – hikers, bikers, fishermen and snowmobilers are, as well. Anyone choosing to walk on or near railroad tracks could face a tragic consequence. Last year, 442 people died and 388 were injured while trespassing on railroad property throughout the United States according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

People who enter railroad property can be arrested for violating trespassing laws. They could serve jail time and/or have to pay a fine. Do not become a statistic; stay away from railroad tracks during this hunting season.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers and provides Americans with a fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly and safe mode of freight transportation. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad emphasizes excellent customer service and offers competitive routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico.

Editors note: 2010 statistics includes all railroads trespasser injuries and fatalities for each of the Union Pacific Railroad Western Region states. 

                        Injury                          Fatality

Arizona           6                                  10

California        53                                62

Idaho               2                                  0

Montana          3                                  2

Nevada            4                                  4

New Mexico    7                                  8

Oregon            9                                  5

Utah                 0                                  2

Washington   10                                11