WILMERDING, Pa., April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wabtec Corporation today announced that its Wabtec Railway Electronics unit has been awarded a contract by Union Pacific Railroad to conduct a positive train control pilot program based on its Electronic Train Management System(TM) (ETMS(R)). Work will begin immediately to install and test the Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) system between North Platte and South Morrill, Neb., as well as Spokane, Wash., and Eastport, Idaho.

"The pilot program will give us an opportunity to evaluate CBTC and determine if it meets our expectations in safety enhancements and operational efficiencies," said Jeff Young, Union Pacific Railroad's assistant vice president - transportation systems.

With CBTC, movement-related information, such as authority limits, speed limits, signal aspects and work zones are passed through a digital communications network and displayed on a computer screen inside the locomotive cab. The onboard computer, with location information provided via the global positioning system, will automatically initiate enforcement braking if the engineer fails to respond appropriately to movement and speed limit information. In addition, the onboard display includes a moving map detailing grade, curvature and track topology.

"We're pleased that Union Pacific has selected Wabtec's train control solution," said Albert J. Neupaver, Wabtec's president and chief executive officer. "ETMS has demonstrated both operational and safety benefits during extensive testing on the BNSF Railway, and we're confident that Union Pacific will achieve similar results with CBTC."

As part of its pilot, Union Pacific will test the interoperability of ETMS with the BNSF system, which began operating in 2004.

Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves the fastest-growing U.S. population centers. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad offers competitive long-haul routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America's premier rail franchise. For more information, contact Mark Davis at 402-544-5459.

With locations in Germantown, Md. and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Wabtec Railway Electronics, a unit of Wabtec, is a leader in the development and manufacture of electronic train control equipment and system solutions for the rail industry. Wabtec Corporation (http://www.wabtec.com/) is a global provider of value- added, technology-based products and services for the rail industry.

CONTACT: Tim Wesley of Wabtec Corporation, +1-412-825-1543

Web site: http://www.wabtec.com/

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