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Feb
01

BNSF earns high rating among 'best places to work' for LGBTQ+ equality

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 2/1/2022 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. scored a 90% rating from the Human Rights Campaign on its 2022 "Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality" list, which recognizes leading U.S. corporations for their policies, practices and benefits pertaining to LGBTQ+ people."Diversity, equality and inclusion are at the core of BNSF’s vision and values," said BNSF Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Judy Carter in an emailed statement. "We are committed to a culture where every team member has an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential. It is an honor to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign and to stand with our peers who share the belief that every employee deserves to be treated with dignity and respect."The index recognized 1,271 companies that promote LGTBQ+ friendly workplace policies. Other railroads that scored high on the index included Union Pacific Railroad, which achieved a perfect score, and Amtrak, which scored a 90% rating.

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Nov
17

BNSF to STB: Extend CP-KCS comment period to assess impact on Mexico

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Nov
17

BNSF to STB: Extend CP-KCS comment period to assess impact on Mexico

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 11/17/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. has asked the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to extend its the proposed timeline for making comments on or objections to Canadian Pacific's application to acquire Kansas City Southern.In a Nov. 12 filing with the board, BNSF says that the proposed 90-day comment period (and Jan. 27, 2022 deadline) is not enough time to address one of the central issues in the proposed acquisition, which is how competition, rate-setting and regulation will affect U.S. shippers involved in transborder movements into and out of Mexico."This issue has important implications for U.S. grain shippers in competition with counterparts in Canada, for rail shippers on other U.S. rail networks that compete for access to Mexican origin and destination markets and for communities on rail lines that will be affected by the supposed growth in transborder traffic," BNSF officials state in their filing.The CP-KCS application provides scarce information on the Mexican portion of the proposed transborder flow of freight, according to BNSF."As a result, the Board and interested parties will need to develop this information (or applicants will need to supplement or refile their application to include this information) in order to assess the benefits that applicants claim will result from these new cross-border movements, along with any potential harms to U.S. shippers of transborder freight that may result from competitive conditions in Mexico," BNSF's filing states.BNSF asks the STB to extend the comment deadline for another 60 days so that it and "other interested parties" can analyze the impact of new single-line service to Mexico.To view BNSF's filing, click here.

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Nov
11

BNSF joins Class I legal battles with unions over COVID vaccine mandate

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Nov
11

BNSF joins Class I legal battles with unions over COVID vaccine mandate

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 11/11/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. has joined other Class Is that have filed lawsuits against rail unions that are fighting implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a company spokeswoman confirmed yesterday.BNSF's stance had been that an employee's decision to get the vaccine was personal. But, the railroad implemented a vaccine mandate after the Biden administration required federal contractors to implement a vaccine policy. BNSF is a federal contractor."While we maintain that the decision to be vaccinated for COVID-19 is a personal one — and have encouraged employees to make the decision that is best for them and their families — the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate now obligates BNSF’s employees to be vaccinated and we all must work toward that end," spokeswoman Amy Casas said in an email. "That said, the company has processes in place for reasonable accommodations for employees exempting them from the vaccination requirement."Casas confirmed that BNSF on Sunday joined other Class Is that are suing certain rail unions that are fighting the mandate."It was apparent that there is a Rail Labor Act (RLA) dispute requiring federal court resolution," she said. "BNSF thinks it's logical for all those RLA issues to be resolved in a single, coordinated litigation."Both Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway — which are federal contractors — are involved in legal battles with rail labor unions over the vaccine requirement.CSX and Kansas City Southern have said they are encouraging their employees to get vaccinated, but have not yet required them to do so.

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Nov
09

BNSF posts revenue, income and volume gains in Q3

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Nov
09

BNSF posts revenue, income and volume gains in Q3

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 11/9/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. yesterday reported third-quarter 2021 net income rose 14% to $1.5 billion and total revenue climbed 12% to $5.8 billion compared with Q3 2020 income and revenue levels.Operating income during the quarter was $2.3 billion, a 12% increase, and operating expenses were $3.5 billion, an 11% increase, compared to a year ago, according to financial results posted on BNSF's website.The Class I reported an operating ratio of 59.5% in the quarter compared to 59.7% a year ago.BNSF's revenue gain reflected higher volumes of 4% in the quarter. The average revenue per car/unit increased 5%. Higher rates per car/unit and increased fuel surcharges principally from higher fuel prices were offset by business mix changes.Revenue changes were driven by continued improvements from the 2020 effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by the ongoing disruptions in the global supply chain. Also during Q3:
• Consumer products volumes increased 3% primarily due to growth in intermodal in both international and domestic shipments driven by increased retail sales, inventory replenishments by retailers and increased e-commerce activity, as well as from growth in automotive shipments;
• Agricultural products volumes decreased 10% due to lower grain exports;
• Industrial products volumes rose 14% due to improvement in the U.S. industrial economy driving higher volumes in construction and building sectors; and
• Coal volumes increased 12% due to increased electricity generation, higher natural gas prices and improved export demand.

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Sep
08

BNSF named one of America's best employers for women

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 9/8/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
Katie Farmer Photo – bnsf.com

BNSF Railway Co. has made Forbes' list of America's Best Employers for Women 2021.

The steps BNSF has taken to support its female talent are reflected in its standing on this year’s list, where it climbed 203 places to No. 6, according to an article on the Forbes website.

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Aug
19

BNSF reopens Arkansas intermodal site

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 8/19/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. has reopened its Harvard Intermodal Facility in Marion, Arkansas, to meet increased intermodal demand in the Memphis, Tennessee, region.All International intermodal shipments originating at the Port of Long Beach's Pier T Terminal in California will now terminate at BNSF's Harvard Intermodal Facility, the Class I announced this week.The facility is located 27 miles northwest of BNSF's Memphis Intermodal Hub.

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Aug
10

BNSF scores solid Q2 financial results

BNSF Railway Co.’s financial performance was promising in the second quarter, with total revenue up 26% to $5.8 billion, operating income up 28% to $2.2 billion and net income up 34% to $1.5 billion on a year-over-year basis.

In addition, total traffic jumped 24% to 2.6 million units and the railroad’s operating ratio improved 0.7 points to 60.4. The higher volume was partially offset by a 2% drop in average revenue per car/unit in 2021’s first half resulting from business mix changes, BNSF officials said in a Q2 performance summary posted on the Class Is’ website.

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Jul
01

BNSF announces two new 'certified' development sites

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 7/1/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. has given two new locations in Montana and Texas its Certified Sites designation.The Class I now has four certified sites in Montana and three in Texas.To earn the designation, sites must undergo a thorough analysis that includes an evaluation of environmental and geotechnical standards, available utilities, site availability, and existing and projected infrastructure, BNSF officials said in a news release.The goal of the Certified Sites program is to provide an inventory of rail-served sites that are available for immediate development, they said. So far, BNSF offers 29 of the sites, all of which provide direct rail service.The two newly-designated Certified Sites, which feature acreage ready for industrial development, are:• Somerville Industrial in Somerville, Texas, which offers 103 acres without zoning requirements or restrictions and is located east of State Highway 36, about 20 miles outside of Bryan-College Station; and• Fort Peck Tribal Industrial Park in Poplar, Montana, which is zoned for heavy industrial. The site encompasses 45 acres located north of U.S. Highway 2 on the Fort Peck Reservation outside city limits.Certified Sites are a part of the Class I's Premier Parks, Sites and Transload program, which addresses increasing demand for customer site locations by developing various types of facilities across the railroad's network, BNSF officials said.    

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Jun
25

BNSF releases 2020 annual report

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 6/25/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. has released its annual report for 2020, including comments by President and Chief Executive Officer Katie Farmer, that highlighted a challenging year."From the pandemic's start, we focused on protecting the health of our employees as well as keeping our trains moving. I'm humbled by the unwavering commitment of our team to deliver critical supplies as we kept freight flowing and distribution centers stocked," she said in the reportWhile the first part of 2021 included the loss of three BNSF employees in work-related incidents, Farmer said BNSF made progress on safety issues as the year continued. "Our mechanical team achieved their best-ever frequency performance in 2020 and engineering came close to matching theirs. As we continue to navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic, we must remain focused on the well-being and safety of our employees, and I am confident that working together we can achieve our safety vision," she wrote.The report also includes BNSF's activities in the areas of diversity and inclusion; sustainability; and service.Read the report here. 

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May
25

BNSF to serve new canola processing facility in Saskatchewan

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 5/25/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
Ceres Global Ag Corp. today announced plans today to build a $350 million integrated canola processing facility in Northgate, Saskatchewan, to help meet the current and growing global demand for canola products.Expected to open in summer 2024, the facility will have the capacity to process 1.1 million metric tons of canola and refine more than 500 thousand metric tons of canola oil annually, Ceres officials said in a press release.BNSF Railway Co. will serve the facility."Demand for renewable diesel feedstocks is rapidly growing. The BNSF network is ideally suited to supply the production, processing and distribution of these feedstocks," said Jim Titsworth, BNSF's director of agricultural development.Ceres has been analyzing canola crush at Northgate for several years, as its location at the Canada-U.S. border is ideally located to originate canola seed from farmers, said Ceres President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Day."With a direct connection to BNSF, the facility will provide the most efficient access to the U.S. market and ports," Day said. "Our Northgate facility includes a 2.7 million-bushel shuttle loading grain elevator and two 120-car loop tracks, providing 'construction-ready' infrastructure and shortening the timeline to complete this project."

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May
03

BNSF posted higher net income, lower operating ratio in Q1

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 5/3/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. posted first-quarter 2021 net income of $1.25 billion, up 5%, and operating income of $1.9 billion, up 4%, compared with the same period a year ago.The Class I posted an operating ratio of 63.7% in the quarter compared to 65.2% in Q1 2020, according to a financial report on bnsf.com.Total revenue for the quarter decreased 0.3% compared with the same period in 2020. The decrease was primarily due to a 5% increase in unit volume offset by a 5% decrease in average revenue per unit.The change in Q1 2021 revenue also resulted from the following:
• Average revenue per unit decreased as a result of business mix changes and lower fuel surcharge revenue due to lower fuel prices.
• Consumer products volumes increased 15%. Growth in both international and domestic intermodal shipments was driven by increased retail sales and inventory replenishments by retailers, along with increased e-commerce activity. Automotive volumes declined due to production impacts from a global microchip shortage.
• Agricultural products volumes increased 12% due to higher grain exports.
• Industrial products volumes decreased 13%. These changes were primarily due to reduced production and demand in the energy sector, which drove lower petroleum products and sand volume. In addition, shipments of chemicals, plastics and aggregates were lower due to winter storm related impacts to Texas and the U.S. Gulf Coast regions.
• Coal volumes decreased 12%. These changes were primarily due to lower utility demand in the early part of the quarter, along with severe winter weather which impacted deliveries.Operating expenses for the quarter fell 2%, which reflected increased volume-related costs and inflation, offset by productivity improvements and lower average fuel prices.

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Mar
01

BNSF posts lower revenue, higher income in Q4

BNSF Railway Co. today reported fourth-quarter 2020 revenue decreased 3% to $5.7 billion, but operating income rose 3% to $2.2 billion and net income climbed 5% to $1.5 billion compared with 2019's financial results.

The Class I attributed the lower revenue primarily to a 3% decrease in unit volume and a 6% decrease in average revenue per car, BNSF officials said in a financial performance summary posted on the Class I's website.

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Feb
22

BNSF advances pile installations at Sandpoint Connector project

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 2/22/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
The project is designed to reduce congestion and help move current and future volumes more efficiently.Photo – BNSF Railway Co.

BNSF Railway Co. has resumed work on its Sandpoint Junction Connector project in Idaho, which involves construction of second bridges over Lake Pend Oreille and Bridge Street, as well as a new bridge over Sand Creek at the marina entrance.

Work was paused during the 2020 winter holiday season. This month, additional pile installations will continue at all work sites, BNSF reported in a company newsletter. 

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Feb
10

BNSF customers invested $1.1 billion in rail-served projects in 2020

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 2/10/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
Logistics Park Kansas CityPhoto – Business Wire

BNSF Railway Co. yesterday reported economic-development investments by its customers totaled $1.1 billion in 2020. 

As a result of the investments, BNSF projects the creation of more than 1,700 new jobs in local communities.

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Jan
21

BNSF budgets nearly $3 billion for 2021 capex

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 1/21/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. yesterday announced it will spend $2.99 billion on its capital plan this year, down from $3.08 billion in 2020.Much like last year's plan, this year's capital expenditures will focus on replacing and maintaining the Class I's core network and related assets."Every year through our capital plan, we work to ensure we are able to continue to operate a safe and efficient rail network, provide our customers with the level of service they have come to expect from BNSF as well as position ourselves for future growth opportunities," said BNSF President and Chief Executive Officer Katie Farmer in a press release.Maintenance projects, which are budgeted at $2.41 billion in 2021, mostly entail replacing and upgrading rail, replacing ballast and ties, and maintaining rolling stock. The plan calls for 11,000 miles of track surfacing or undercutting work, and the replacement of 428 miles of rail and 2.6 million ties.About $400 million will be spent on expansion and efficiency projects. On BNSF's Southern Transcon route between the West Coast and Midwest, the railroad will continue a multiyear effort to add several segments of new double track in eastern Kansas. Once completed, BNSF will have 50 miles of additional main track to support traffic growth, company officials said.In addition, in the Pacific Northwest, BNSF will continue a multiyear bridge project near Sandpoint, Idaho, to increase train capacity.About $180 million of the 2021 capital plan will be spent on freight cars and other equipment acquisitions.

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Jan
13

BNSF files plan to address grizzly bear deaths by train

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 1/13/2021 Rail News: BNSF Railway
As part of its permit application, BNSF filed a conservation plan intended to prevent grizzly bears from dying due to railroad operations.Photo – shutterstock.com

BNSF Railway Co. has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for an "incidental take permit" (ITP) that would allow for a certain number of grizzly bear deaths by train operations along 206 miles of railway in Montana.

As part of its application, BNSF filed a conservation plan intended to prevent grizzly bears from dying due to railroad operations. Grizzlies have been listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since 1975.

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Dec
15

BNSF designates three new 'certified' sites

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 12/15/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. yesterday awarded its Certified Sites designation to locations in Kansas, Missouri and Texas.To be considered for the designation, the sites must be evaluated for environmental and geotechnical standards, available utilities, site availability and existing and projected infrastructure. Once certified, the sites can offer direct rail service via BNSF.The three new sites feature hundreds of acres ready for industrial development, BNSF officials said in a press release. The sites are located in:
• New Century AirCenter Business Park, New Century, Kansas. The park is adjacent to Interstate 35 with access to other Kansas City region interstates, and consists of 667 acres available for development in Johnson County.
• Wildwood Ranch, Joplin, Missouri. The site is located southeast of U.S. Highway 66 and comprises 503 acres divided into two main areas that extend into Jasper and Newton counties.
• Gateway Industrial Park, Gainesville, Texas. Located near I-35, the park has 126 acres ready for development of rail-served industrial sites.Businesses looking to locate at the Certified Sites could save six to nine months of construction time as a result of the designation, BNSF officials said.

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