v2.4.1.9
Debt (Details 4) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Aug. 21, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt $ 1,170us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1  
Debt exchange fees 9us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCostsIncurredDuringNoncashOrPartialNoncashTransaction  
Cash consideration 280us-gaap_PaymentOfFinancingAndStockIssuanceCosts  
Accrued and unpaid interest 8unp_AccruedInterestDebtExchangeExistingNotes  
3.646% Debt Due 2024 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
New debt 439us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
New rate 3.646%us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentRate
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
New due date   Feb. 15, 2024
Date of exchange   Aug. 21, 2013
3.646% Debt Due 2024 [Member] | 7.000% Debentures Due 2016 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt 8us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_DebenturesDue20167000PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original rate 7.00%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_DebenturesDue20167000PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original due date, year   2016
3.646% Debt Due 2024 [Member] | 5.650% Notes Due 2017 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt 38us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20175650PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original rate 5.65%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20175650PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original due date, year   2017
3.646% Debt Due 2024 [Member] | 5.750% Notes Due 2017 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt 70us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20175750PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original rate 5.75%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20175750PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original due date, year   2017
3.646% Debt Due 2024 [Member] | 5.700% Notes Due 2018 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt 103us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20185700PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original rate 5.70%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20185700PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original due date, year   2018
3.646% Debt Due 2024 [Member] | 7.875% Notes Due 2019 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt 20us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20197875PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original rate 7.875%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20197875PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original due date, year   2019
3.646% Debt Due 2024 [Member] | 6.125% Notes Due 2020 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt 238us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20206125PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original rate 6.125%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20206125PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20243646PercentMember
 
Original due date, year   2020
4.821% Debt Due 2044 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
New debt 700us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
New rate 4.821%us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentRate
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
New due date   Feb. 01, 2044
Date of exchange   Aug. 21, 2013
4.821% Debt Due 2044 [Member] | 7.125% Debentures Due 2028 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt 73us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_DebenturesDue20287125PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
Original rate 7.125%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_DebenturesDue20287125PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
Original due date, year   2028
4.821% Debt Due 2044 [Member] | 6.625% Debentures Due 2029 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt 177us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_DebenturesDue20296625PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
Original rate 6.625%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_DebenturesDue20296625PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
Original due date, year   2029
4.821% Debt Due 2044 [Member] | 6.250% Debentures Due 2034 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt 19us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_DebenturesDue20346250PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
Original rate 6.25%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_DebenturesDue20346250PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
Original due date, year   2034
4.821% Debt Due 2044 [Member] | 6.150% Debentures Due 2037 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt 138us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_DebenturesDue20376150PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
Original rate 6.15%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_DebenturesDue20376150PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
Original due date, year   2037
4.821% Debt Due 2044 [Member] | 5.780% Notes Due 2040 [Member]    
Debt Conversion [Line Items]    
Original debt $ 286us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20405780PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
Original rate 5.78%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtConversionByUniqueDescriptionAxis
= unp_NotesDue20405780PercentMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= unp_DebtDue20444821PercentMember
 
Original due date, year   2040