Union Pacific and Rocky Mountain Steel Mills Announce New Long-Term Contract

Contract Represents Commitment to Domestic Steel Production and Pueblo, Colorado Community

Apr. 15, 2026 at 5:08pm

A photorealistic studio still life featuring a stack of gleaming steel railroad rails in various lengths, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background to represent the abstract concepts of infrastructure, transportation, and domestic manufacturing.A new long-term contract between Union Pacific and Rocky Mountain Steel Mills underscores the commitment to domestic steel production and the historic steel community in Pueblo, Colorado.Pueblo Today

Union Pacific Railroad and Rocky Mountain Steel Mills have reached a new seven-year contract for the domestic production of steel rails, underscoring Union Pacific's commitment to buying the majority of its rail from a United States manufacturer. The agreement ends any pending legal disputes between the companies and will support the construction of a new, state-of-the-art long rail mill in Pueblo, Colorado, ensuring it remains the only dedicated steel rail mill in the U.S.

Why it matters

This contract represents a significant commitment to domestic steel production and the historic steel community in Pueblo, Colorado. It will help maintain American manufacturing jobs and strengthen the nation's transportation infrastructure by ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality steel rails produced by union workers.

The details

The new contract between Union Pacific and Rocky Mountain Steel Mills will run for seven years. Rocky Mountain Steel, located in Pueblo, Colorado, is the only remaining dedicated rail production facility in the United States and one of the largest producers of steel products in North America. The agreement ends any pending legal disputes between the companies, as Union Pacific has withdrawn its previously filed lawsuit in Nebraska. Rocky Mountain Steel expects to begin operations this year at a new, state-of-the-art long rail mill, constructed with a more than $1 billion investment in domestic steel production.

  • The new contract will run for seven years.
  • Rocky Mountain Steel expects to begin operations at its new long rail mill this year.

The players

Union Pacific Railroad

A major American freight transportation company and one of the largest railroad networks in North America.

Rocky Mountain Steel Mills

The only remaining dedicated rail production facility in the United States and one of the largest producers of steel products in North America, located in Pueblo, Colorado.

United Steelworkers (USW)

The labor union representing the workers at Rocky Mountain Steel Mills.

Jim Vena

CEO of Union Pacific Railroad.

Doug Matthews

CEO of Orion Steel, the parent company of Rocky Mountain Steel Mills.

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What they’re saying

“We appreciate the longstanding relationship with Rocky Mountain Steel, its dedicated workforce and their collective commitment to domestic steel manufacturing. The new long-rail mill is a significant step forward in American manufacturing that supports Union Pacific's focus on delivering safe, reliable service for our customers.”

— Jim Vena, CEO of Union Pacific Railroad

“The new contract reinforces the one-of-a-kind partnership between Union Pacific Railroad and Rocky Mountain Steel, a relationship that traces its roots back to the 1890's and has been benefiting American workers every day since.”

— Doug Matthews, CEO of Orion Steel, the parent company of Rocky Mountain Steel Mills

What’s next

The new long rail mill at the Pueblo facility is expected to begin operations this year, delivering extraordinary long-rail capability and improving track safety and reliability for major railroads like Union Pacific.

The takeaway

This contract represents a significant commitment to domestic steel production and the historic steel community in Pueblo, Colorado, helping to maintain American manufacturing jobs and strengthen the nation's transportation infrastructure through the reliable supply of high-quality steel rails.