UPDATED August 29, 2017 - TRA Newswire -

Two Class 1 railroads in Texas have announced Hurricane Harvey relief funds to help those impacted by the disaster.

Union Pacific today pledged $250,000 to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The funds will be provided from a variety of company donations, demonstrating the railroad's commitment to Houston and other affected railroad communities, and employees who live and work there.

The company is immediately donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross and $50,000 to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. Additionally, Union Pacific will match contributions to its "Friend to Friend" employee support network through Sept. 30, dollar-for-dollar, up to $100,000. The company will also match donations made to a Disaster Relief Matching Gifts Program for Hurricane Harvey, where employees can provide funding directly to American Red Cross, Salvation Army and others.

Union Pacific's Southern Region is headquartered in Houston, a major freight rail hub for Union Pacific and the transportation industry.

Throughout the relief and recovery efforts, Union Pacific is committed to maintaining its unrelenting focus on employee, community and customer safety.

Kansas City Southern (KCS) today announced its charitable fund will immediately donate $50,000 to the American Red Cross to aid in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in south Texas.  In addition, it will also match employee gifts to the American Red Cross via the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation-KCS Fund, dollar for dollar up to $25,000 for a total possible gift of $100,000 from KCS and its employees.  Employee gifts can be made here.

In a news release KCS indicated that the Houston, Texas and Gulf region are central to the KCS rail network with many employees and customers located there.  The safety and well-being of these communities is paramount.  KCS is keeping customers apprised of how the network is affected by Hurricane Harvey through Service Status Updates in the Customer Resources section of www.kcsouthern.com.  KCS continues to monitor the situation and any consequences in other states where employees may be affected in the days ahead, and may provide additional relief.

Union Pacific Railroad operational update:

Hurricane Harvey, downgraded Monday to Tropical Storm Harvey, continues causing heavy rain and widespread flooding in Houston and the surrounding area. The storm is predicted to persist for several more days, generating record rainfalls. A second landfall is predicted for Tuesdayevening/Wednesday morning, with 50 total inches of rain expected in some areas by Friday.

As of Monday afternoon, specific impacts to Union Pacific operations include:

Suspended rail operations along the Texas Gulf Coast from Brownsville through Corpus Christi to Houston and east to Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Embargoes for all rail traffic destined to Gulf Coast locations and others within the Houston Service Unit. Union Pacific recommends customers consider diverting cars destined to the impacted area where feasible.
No trains operating through flooded and storm-damaged areas.
Conducting track inspections, where possible, in anticipation of resuming operations.