v2.4.1.9
Schedule Of Valuation And Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Presented in Consolidated Statements of Financial Position [Abstract]      
Allowance for doubtful accounts - current $ 5us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent $ 1us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent  
Allowance for doubtful accounts - long-term 16us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableNoncurrent 22us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableNoncurrent  
Accrued casualty costs, current 249us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent 207us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent  
Allowance For Doubtful Accounts [Member]      
Schedule Of Valuation And Qualifying Accounts [Line Items]      
Balance, beginning of period 23us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
37us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
50us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Reduction to expense   (4)unp_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesReductionToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
(1)unp_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesReductionToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Charges to expense 5us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
   
Net write-offs / cash payments and other reductions (7)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
(10)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
(12)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Balance, end of period 21us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
23us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
37us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Presented in Consolidated Statements of Financial Position [Abstract]      
Allowance for doubtful accounts - current 5us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
1us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
4us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Allowance for doubtful accounts - long-term 16us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
22us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
33us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Accrued Casualty Costs [Member]      
Schedule Of Valuation And Qualifying Accounts [Line Items]      
Balance, beginning of period 702us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
734us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
778us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
Charges to expense 256us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
188us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
190us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
Net write-offs / cash payments and other reductions (201)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
(220)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
(234)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
Balance, end of period 757us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
702us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
734us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
Presented in Consolidated Statements of Financial Position [Abstract]      
Accrued casualty costs, current 249us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
207us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
213us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
Accrued casualty costs, long-term $ 508us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
$ 495us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember
$ 521us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= unp_AccruedCasualtyCostsMember