Woman Working on the Railroad Sues for Sexual Harassment

EAGLE PASS, TX — A former driver for RailCrew Xpress LLC has filed a federal lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Virginia Lechler claims she endured persistent unwanted advances and comments from supervisors at Union Pacific Railroad, where she was contracted to work, and that her complaints were ignored, leading to her termination after her husband confronted one of the alleged harassers.

The complaint, filed on December 3, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, names RailCrew Xpress as the defendant. RailCrew Xpress, a Missouri-based transportation company specializing in crew logistics for the railroad industry, reportedly employs over 2,400 people and generates annual revenue exceeding $90 million. The company provides safe and reliable transportation services to railroads across the nation, including Union Pacific.

According to the lawsuit, Lechler was hired by RailCrew Xpress in September 2017 and exclusively contracted as a driver on Union Pacific property in Eagle Pass. She alleges that starting in April 2018, Union Pacific employees Mario Ramos, David Sanchez, and Adrian Ibarra subjected her to inappropriate comments about her body, appearance, and marital status, as well as persistent sexual advances. Despite her repeated requests for the behavior to stop, it continued throughout her employment.

Lechler claims she reported the harassment multiple times to RailCrew Xpress management, including supervisor Albert Morales, but no remedial or preventive actions were taken. The situation escalated on November 3, 2019, when Sanchez allegedly questioned her appearance and offered her a room at his home. Unbeknownst to Sanchez, Lechler's then-husband—an employee of Union Pacific—was on the phone and overheard the exchange. Later that day, her husband confronted Sanchez.

Three days later, on November 6, 2019, Lechler was informed by RailCrew Xpress manager Tim Barclay that she had been banned from Union Pacific property and was effectively terminated. Barclay reportedly stated he did not know the reason for the ban. The lawsuit argues that RailCrew Xpress and Union Pacific operated as a "single employer" due to the intertwined nature of her duties and oversight.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigated Lechler's charge and issued a Letter of Determination on August 22, 2025, finding reasonable cause to believe she was subjected to sexual harassment based on her sex and retaliated against for engaging in protected activity. The EEOC noted that evidence corroborated her complaints to Morales, and that when RailCrew Xpress later lost its contract with Union Pacific, other employees were offered alternative positions or transfers—options not extended to Lechler.

After failed conciliation efforts, the EEOC issued a Notice of Right to Sue on September 2, 2025, paving the way for the lawsuit. Lechler seeks back pay, front pay, compensatory and punitive damages, equitable relief, attorneys' fees, and costs.

Union Pacific, while not named as a defendant, is implicated in the claims. Neither UP or Railcrew XPress have answered the lawsuit that Lechler filed on Dec. 3, 2025.