OREANDA-NEWS. Union Pacific's persistent community safety outreach efforts are driving down incidents at grade crossings in communities across the company's 23-state rail network.

Union Pacific's year-to-date public safety rate, which measures the total number of Federal Railroad Administration reportable grade crossing accidents per million train miles, improved 11 percent to 1.97 versus the same time frame in 2014.

Education continues to be a cornerstone of Union Pacific's efforts to reach zero incidents. In addition to hosting hundreds of UP CARES events annually, and conducting radio and billboard rail safety reminders, Union Pacific launched its first social media-based campaign in June urging photographers taking high school senior photos to stay off the tracks. In its first month, more than half a million Facebook and Twitter users were reached through the campaign, which can be viewed at up.com/photosafety..

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2005-2014, Union Pacific invested more than $31 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.