Union Pacific is implementing an innovative strategy to combat heat-related rail issues, contributing to its best-ever full-year derailment incident rate in 2025, an improvement of 19% year over year. "Steel rails expand in extreme heat," explained Rod Doerr, chief safety officer. "When that steel has nowhere to go, it can push sideways and create what we call a thermal misalignment."

While rail anchors, fasteners, and regular maintenance are standard, Union Pacific is now applying white paint to the sides of its rails, a technique borrowed from European rail practices and U.S. highway striping. This method uses a high-rail truck and paint sprayer to reflect sunlight, thereby lowering the rail's surface temperature. "We've seen about a 20-degree drop in the rail temperature," Doerr stated, emphasizing that this significantly reduces the risk of rail shifting.

This initiative, deployed in high-heat areas, adds an extra layer of protection. Doerr noted, "To my knowledge, no other railroad in the U.S. is doing this." He highlighted that safety improvements are a blend of proven practices and practical innovation, reinforcing rail's position as a safe freight transport method. The program sparks conversation about innovative thinking, with crews asking, "Why haven't we been doing this for a hundred years?"