While UP maintains the highest derailment rate among Class I railroads, Employees were coached on how to respond to FRA safety questions and report interactions to leadership.

Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, has written a letter to Union Pacific Railroad expressing grave concerns about the company’s safety culture. This follows a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) investigation revealing that Union Pacific employees were coached to manipulate responses during a safety audit. Senator Cantwell highlighted the severity of the issue, stating that these actions "undermine the integrity of the assessment process" and have a "chilling effect on employee reporting of safety issues." She demanded detailed information and corrective actions, emphasizing the need to address what she called "an indication of a weak safety culture" within Union Pacific.

Read the full letter Here