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Debt (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified
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12 Months Ended |
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|
Dec. 31, 2014
|
Dec. 31, 2013
|
| Debt Instrument [Line Item] |
|
|
| Total debt |
$ 11,480us-gaap_LongTermDebt |
$ 9,577us-gaap_LongTermDebt |
| Current portion of debt |
(462)us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent |
(705)us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent |
| Total long-term debt |
11,018us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations |
8,872us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations |
| Notes And Debentures [Member] |
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|
| Debt Instrument [Line Item] |
|
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| Total debt |
9,266us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember |
8,068us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember |
| Stated percentage rate range, minimum |
2.30%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMinimum / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember |
|
| Stated percentage rate range, maximum |
7.90%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMaximum / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember |
|
| Debt due through |
Jan. 01, 2054 |
|
| Capitalized Leases [Member] |
|
|
| Debt Instrument [Line Item] |
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|
| Total debt |
1,520us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsMember |
1,702us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsMember |
| Stated percentage rate range, minimum |
3.10%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMinimum / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsMember |
|
| Stated percentage rate range, maximum |
8.40%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMaximum / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsMember |
|
| Debt due through |
Dec. 10, 2028 |
|
| Equipment Obligations [Member] |
|
|
| Debt Instrument [Line Item] |
|
|
| Total debt |
597us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_EquipmentObligationsMember |
110us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_EquipmentObligationsMember |
| Stated percentage rate range, minimum |
3.20%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMinimum / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_EquipmentObligationsMember |
|
| Stated percentage rate range, maximum |
6.70%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMaximum / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_EquipmentObligationsMember |
|
| Debt due through |
Jan. 02, 2031 |
|
| Receivables Securitization Facility [Member] |
|
|
| Debt Instrument [Line Item] |
|
|
| Total debt |
400us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_ReceivablesSecuritizationFacilityMember |
0us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_ReceivablesSecuritizationFacilityMember |
| Floating Rate Term Loan [Member] |
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|
| Debt Instrument [Line Item] |
|
|
| Total debt |
200us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_FloatingRateTermLoanMember |
200us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_FloatingRateTermLoanMember |
| Debt due through |
Oct. 31, 2016 |
|
| Mortgage Bonds [Member] |
|
|
| Debt Instrument [Line Item] |
|
|
| Total debt |
57us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_MortgagesMember |
57us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_MortgagesMember |
| Stated percentage rate range, minimum |
4.80%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMinimum / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_MortgagesMember |
|
| Stated percentage rate range, maximum |
4.80%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMaximum / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_MortgagesMember |
|
| Debt due through |
Jan. 01, 2030 |
|
| Medium-Term Notes [Member] |
|
|
| Debt Instrument [Line Item] |
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|
| Total debt |
23us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_MediumTermNotesMember |
32us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_MediumTermNotesMember |
| Stated percentage rate range, minimum |
9.30%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMinimum / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_MediumTermNotesMember |
|
| Stated percentage rate range, maximum |
10.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMaximum / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_MediumTermNotesMember |
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| Debt due through |
Apr. 15, 2020 |
|
| Tax-Exempt Financings [Member] |
|
|
| Debt Instrument [Line Item] |
|
|
| Total debt |
8us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_TaxExemptFinancingsMember |
12us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_TaxExemptFinancingsMember |
| Debt due through |
Dec. 01, 2015 |
|
| Unamortized Discount [Member] |
|
|
| Debt Instrument [Line Item] |
|
|
| Total debt |
$ (591)us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_UnamortizedDiscountMember |
$ (604)us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = unp_UnamortizedDiscountMember |