OREANDA-NEWS. Union Pacific announced it will move forward with plans for a new rail yard in Robertson County, Texas, that will strengthen Texas as a national freight transportation hub, create jobs and deliver significant economic stimulus to the region.

"This rail facility will connect the largest and fastest growing Texas markets to the state's existing freight transportation infrastructure," said Brenda Mainwaring, Union Pacific vice president - Public Affairs. "The development of this project will create more than 1,400 construction jobs over a two year period. We estimate 200 permanent jobs will be needed to operate the site once it is completed. At full operation, this yard is also expected to contribute an additional 184 indirect regional jobs."

Texas is experiencing exponential population growth, resulting in increased demand for building materials and consumer goods. Union Pacific's new rail facility will help meet the region's growing freight transportation needs while taking over-the-road trucks off the highways. One Union Pacific train can carry the same freight as up to 280 trucks. And, according to EPA data, trains are four times more fuel efficient than trucks.

The facility, known as a classification yard, will function by sorting rail cars by destination on separate tracks from inbound trains to make multiple outbound trains. The outbound trains will be fueled, inspected by a mechanical crew, and then depart to local and regional destinations.

Seven different Union Pacific rail lines converge in Southern Robertson County, connecting the markets of Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, the Gulf Coast and the rest of East Texas.