Union Pacific’s employee-designed and built AutoFlex® rail car was rolled out of the fabrication shop door recently to the delight of more than 200 Union Pacific employees who brought the design to life.
The 90-foot long AutoFlex® is a convertible, multi-level rail car that can be easily transformed from two to three decks based on the customer’s vehicle shipment needs.
The AutoFlex® delivers numerous benefits to Union Pacific auto customers, including:
- The flexibility of three decks to transport small vehicles or two decks to accommodate large vehicles. Traditional vehicle-carrying rail cars have either two or three decks and cannot be converted from one to the other.
- Superior security due to the removal of ladder access to the rail car roof and upper decks. The ladder is accessible only when end doors are open.
- A new end-door design with ladders that allow for safer, more ergonomic access to the rail car’s interior.
- Increased service quality thanks to a proven durable door edge system, improved tie-down chock systems and upgraded in-transit damage protection.
Union Pacific holds 15 patents related to the design and process that resulted in developing the AutoFlex®.
UP employees expect to build 100 AutoFlex® cars in 2011 and are scheduled to build 200, or more, in 2012.
Union Pacific is the largest automotive carrier west of the Mississippi River and operates or accesses 43 distribution centers.
The Railroad’s extensive franchise serves five vehicle assembly plants and connects to West Coast ports and the Port of Houston to accommodate both import and export shipments.
Union Pacific’s 18,000 vehicle carrying rail car fleet is the largest in the industry.
In addition to transporting finished vehicles, UP provides expedited handling of automotive parts in both boxcars and intermodal containers destined for Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.
