THE Union Pacific Railroad's (UP), the largest North American freight line, second quarter net profit increased 24 per cent year on year to US$1.7 billion drawn on revenue of $5.2 billion, up seven per cent.

The "best ever" second quarter results were supported by a healthy intermodal freight revenue increase of 10 per cent to make $1 billion with 846 containers moved, an increase of three per cent year on year. Average revenue per carload increased seven per cent to $1,108. This offset the drop in coal volumes of 17 per cent.



By combining solid pricing against efficient networks improving train speed by two per cent and productivity gains, the Omaha-based railway was able to make its "best-ever quarter by nearly every financial measure," said UP chief executive Jack Koraleski.