Union Pacific Railroad is implementing a Precision Scheduled Railroading-based operating plan. That raised concerns at the Surface Transportation Board. Last week, rail industry's economic regulator asked the carrier to hold weekly calls updating the progress of the implementation.

That's fine with the railroad.

The implementation of PSR (precision scheduled railroading) has been a fraught process. E. Hunter Harrison was a leading advocate of the system which he implemented at Canadian National, Canadian Pacific and CSX. The adoption has frequently been accompanied by cuts to the rail network, closing of classification yard humps, idling excess motive power and staff reductions.

E...