|
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 |