v2.4.1.9
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Activities [Abstract]      
Net income $ 5,180us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss $ 4,388us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss $ 3,943us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities [Abstract]      
Depreciation 1,904us-gaap_Depreciation 1,777us-gaap_Depreciation 1,760us-gaap_Depreciation
Deferred income taxes and unrecognized tax benefits 895unp_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndUnrecognizedTaxBenefits 723unp_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndUnrecognizedTaxBenefits 887unp_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndUnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Other operating activities, net (285)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet (226)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet (160)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet
Changes in current assets and liabilities [Abstract]      
Accounts receivable, net (197)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable (83)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable 70us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable
Materials and supplies (59)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInMaterialsAndSupplies 7us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInMaterialsAndSupplies (46)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInMaterialsAndSupplies
Other current assets (270)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentAssets 74us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentAssets (108)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentAssets
Accounts payable and other current liabilities 217us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities 163us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities (185)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities
Cash provided by operating activities 7,385us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations 6,823us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations 6,161us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations
Investing Activities [Abstract]      
Capital investments (4,346)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment (3,496)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment (3,738)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Proceeds from asset sales 138us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment 98us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment 80us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Acquisition of equipment pending financing 0unp_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipmentPendingFinancing 0unp_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipmentPendingFinancing (274)unp_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipmentPendingFinancing
Proceeds from sale of assets financed 0unp_ProceedsFromSaleOfAssetsFinanced 0unp_ProceedsFromSaleOfAssetsFinanced 274unp_ProceedsFromSaleOfAssetsFinanced
Other investing activities, net (41)us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities (7)us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities 25us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities
Cash used in investing activities (4,249)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations (3,405)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations (3,633)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations
Financing Activities [Abstract]      
Common share repurchases (Note 19) (3,225)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock (2,218)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock (1,474)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
Debt issued 2,588us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt 1,443us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt 695us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt
Dividends paid (1,632)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends (1,333)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends (1,146)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Debt repaid (710)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations (640)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations (758)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Debt exchange 0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtRestructuringCosts (289)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtRestructuringCosts 0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtRestructuringCosts
Other financing activities, net (3)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities (12)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities 1us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
Cash used in financing activities (2,982)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations (3,049)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations (2,682)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 154us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease 369us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease (154)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 1,432us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 1,063us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 1,217us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 1,586us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 1,432us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 1,063us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Non-cash investing and financing activities [Abstract]      
Cash dividends declared but not yet paid 438us-gaap_DividendsPayableCurrent 356us-gaap_DividendsPayableCurrent 318us-gaap_DividendsPayableCurrent
Capital investments accrued but not yet paid 174us-gaap_CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid 133us-gaap_CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid 136us-gaap_CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid
Capital lease financings 0us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred 39us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred 290us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred
Cash paid during the year for: [Abstract]      
Interest, net of amounts capitalized (554)us-gaap_InterestPaidNet (528)us-gaap_InterestPaidNet (561)us-gaap_InterestPaidNet
Income taxes, net of refunds $ (2,492)us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet $ (1,656)us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet $ (1,552)us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet