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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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Nov
10

BNSF posts lower Q3 revenue, issues sustainability report

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 11/10/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co.'s third-quarter 2020 total revenue fell 14% to $5 billion and operating income dipped 8% to $2 billion compared with revenue and operating income during the same quarter in 2019.The Class I attributed the decreases primarily to an 8% drop in unit volume due primarily to the COVID-19 pandemic, BNSF officials reported yesterday in a press release."Volumes sequentially improved from earlier periods, but continued to be impacted in the third quarter," they said.Additionally, average revenue per car/unit declined 6% during the quarter.Other factors that affected BNSF's third-quarter bottom line included the following:
• Consumer products volumes rose 1%. Increased retail sales and inventory replenishment by retailers, along with higher e-commerce activity, offset earlier declines and resulting in higher domestic intermodal volumes.
• Industrial products volumes dropped 23%, due primarily to a decline in U.S. industrial production driven by the pandemic and reduced demand in the energy sector, which drove lower sand and petroleum products.
• Agricultural products volumes rose 4% in the quarter. Higher grain and meal exports were substantially offset by the pandemic's impact on volume, primarily ethanol and sweeteners, along with lower soybean exports.
• Coal volumes plummeted 25%.The Class I posted Q3 operating expenses of $3.2 million, down 18%, and net income of $1.3 billion, down 8%. The railroad logged an operating ratio of 59.7%, down from 62.6% in Q3 2019.BNSF officials attributed the decrease in expenses to lower volume-related costs, productivity improvements and the effects of cost control initiatives.Meanwhile, BNSF has issued its corporate sustainability report, which focuses on the Class I's accomplishments during the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. The report can be read here

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Sep
04

BNSF to operate contaminated rail under consent decree

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 9/4/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
The consent decree affects BNSF property in northwest Montana.Photo – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Federal and state of Montana officials have proposed an agreement that would make BNSF Railway Co. responsible for maintaining and operating track that the railroad is accused of contaminating with asbestos.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Montana Department of Environmental Quality and BNSF proposed in a consent decree that the Class I would implement an operation and a maintenance plan, a health and safety plan and institutional controls to minimize risk to railroad workers and the surrounding community from low levels of asbestos within the Operable Unit 6 of the Libby Asbestos Superfund Site in Lincoln County, Montana.

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Aug
27

BNSF unveils newly painted locomotives to recognize 25th anniversary

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 8/27/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
The General Electric ES44AC No. 5828 now displays a "25th Anniversary" label on the nose and side, as well as predecessor railroads that are part of BNSF's history.Photo – BNSF Railway Co.

BNSF Railway Co. recently unveiled the first of 10 locomotives with special paint schemes marking the railroad's 25th anniversary.

The General Electric ES44AC No. 5828 now displays a "25th Anniversary" label on the nose and side, as well as predecessor railroads that are part of BNSF's history: Burlington Northern; Santa Fe Railway; Great Northern; Northern Pacific; Spokane, Portland & Seattle; Colorado & Southern; and the Frisco, BNSF officials said in the Class I's Inside Track newsletter.

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Aug
18

BNSF honors customers for hazmat safety

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 8/18/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
Companies receiving the award transported an established minimum of loaded tank cars of hazardous materials with zero non-accident releases during last year's full transportation cycle, BNSF officials said.Photo – bnsf.com

BNSF Railway Co. recently recognized 106 customers with its annual Product Stewardship Award for the safe transportation of hazardous materials by rail during 2019. 

Companies receiving the award transported an established minimum of loaded tank cars of hazardous materials with zero non-accident releases during last year's full transportation cycle, BNSF officials said in a press release.

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Aug
10

BNSF's Q2 revenue tumbled 22 percent on lower volumes

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 8/10/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. reported second-quarter 2020 revenue declined 22 percent to $4.6 billion from $5.9 billion, while operating income fell 14 percent to $1.7 billion from $2 billion during the same quarter last year.The Class I attributed the revenue and operating income declines primarily to an 18 percent decrease in volume. In addition, average revenue per car fell 5 percent during the quarter driven by a one-time favorable outcome of an arbitration hearing recognized in Q1 2019 and lower fuel surcharges, BNSF officials said in a financial statement posted on the railroad's website.BNSF's Q2 2020 net income tumbled 15 percent to $1.1 billion from $1.3 billion a year ago. Operating expenses fell 26 percent during the quarter, to $2.87 billion from $3.88 billion. The decrease reflects lower volume-related costs, productivity improvements and lower costs related to improved weather conditions.The Class I posted a Q2 operating ratio of 61.1 percent, down from 64.8 percent a year ago.BNSF's volume decreases during the quarter were primarily the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which negative affected volumes beginning late in Q1 and continued through Q2.The decrease in volume during the quarter also resulted from the following:
• Consumer product volume fell 12 percent primarily due to lower international intermodal and automotive volumes due to the pandemic.
• Industrial product volumes fell 26 percent, primarily due to a pandemic-related decrease in U.S. industrial production and reduced demand in the energy sector.
• Agricultural products volumes decreased 7 percent, primarily due to the pandemic's impact on ethanol and related commodities and due to lower net exports.
• Coal volume plummeted 34 percent, primarily due to lower electricity demand driven by the pandemic and a mild winter, as well as low natural gas prices and plant retirements.

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Jul
16

BNSF tests autostrads to improve intermodal operations

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 7/16/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
The autostrad uses navigation and positioning technology to drive to the portal and pick up the container.Photo – bnsf.com

BNSF Railway Co. has begun testing two automated straddle carriers at its Logistics Park Kansas City Intermodal Facility (LPKC).

The "autostrads" are being used to improve the safety and efficiency of the Class I's intermodal operations. BNSF is the first railroad in the world to use "autostrads" that carry containers larger than 40 feet and the first U.S. rail carrier to implement the technology at an inland intermodal facility, BNSF officials said in a website post.

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Jun
24

BNSF adds intermodal option between Seattle, northwest Ohio

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 6/24/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
[Editor's note: The headline on this story was updated at 4:23 p.m. CDT.]BNSF Railway Co. earlier this month introduced a new direct intermodal service option between the Pacific Northwest and northwest Ohio.The new container-only service initially is being offered five days a week for eastbound and westbound freight originating and terminating at BNSF's South Seattle Intermodal Facility.Customers who originate shipments at the Seattle facility now can access some of the fastest growing industrial and consumer markets in and around northwest Ohio, BNSF officials said in a customer notification.The new option stems from the growth of BNSF's direct-rail intermodal service connecting California with the Ohio Valley.  

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Jun
24

BNSF adds intermodal option between Pacific Northwest, Ohio Valley

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 6/24/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. earlier this month introduced a new direct intermodal service option between the Pacific Northwest and the Ohio Valley region.The new container-only service initially is being offered five days a week for eastbound and westbound freight originating and terminating at BNSF's South Seattle Intermodal Facility.Customers who originate shipments at the Seattle facility now can access some of the fastest growing industrial and consumer markets in and around northwest Ohio, BNSF officials said in a customer notification.The new option stems from the growth of BNSF's direct-rail intermodal service connecting California with the Ohio Valley.  

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Jun
03

MnDOT: Willmar rail connector project making progress

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 6/3/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
Rail construction is slated to begin in spring 2021 and end in fall 2022. BNSF will carry out the railway final design and construction.Photo – Minnesota Department of Transportation

Construction is advancing on a rail connector and industrial access project involving BNSF Railway Co. in Willmar, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) reported this week.

Known as Willmar Wye, the project is a public-private partnership between BNSF, MnDOT, Kandiyohi County and the city of Willmar to build a new rail line bypass on the city's west side.

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May
15

BNSF advances bridge projects in Idaho, Washington

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 5/15/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway is building a second rail bridge over Lake Pend Oreille adjacent to an existing rail bridge.Photo – BNSF Railway Co.

Work is advancing on two BNSF Railway Co. bridges this spring, one near Sandpoint, Idaho, and the other over Drano Lake in Skamania County, Washington.

BNSF is continuing work on a temporary rail bridge over Lake Pend Oreille near Sandpoint. Construction crews are building a second rail bridge adjacent to the existing rail bridge, and are currently working on a temporary span. That span will be taller than the eventual permanent bridge, which will be the same height as the existing bridge that BNSF is replacing, BNSF officials said in a recent company newsletter.

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May
05

BNSF posts Q1 revenue decline on lower volumes

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 5/5/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. yesterday reported first-quarter net income fell 5 percent to $1.19 billion, operating income rose 2.5 percent to $1.8 billion and total revenue declined 6 percent to $5.4 billion compared with first-quarter 2019's results.The revenue decrease was primarily due to a 5 percent decrease in unit volume and a 1 percent decrease in average revenue per car/unit driven by an arbitration hearing recognized in Q1 2019, in addition to lower fuel surcharges, BNSF officials said in a press release.BNSF also reported the following first-quarter volume trends:
• Consumer product volumes fell 7 percent compared with the year-ago period primarily because of lower international intermodal volumes as the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to lower U.S. West Coast imports. Volumes further decelerated late in the quarter in the domestic intermodal and automotive segments as the pandemic's impact on U.S. consumers intensified.
• Industrial product volumes fell 2 percent compared with Q1 2019. The results were attributed primarily to lower sand volumes driven by increased competition from in-basin sand and due to lower liquefied petroleum gas volume attributable to increased pipeline takeaway capacity. These decreases were partially offset by higher demand for petroleum products.
• Agricultural product volumes rose 3 percent versus Q1 2019's results, primarily due to higher domestic grain and soybean meal shipments, partially offset by lower grain exports.
• Coal volumes fell 8 percent compared to the year-ago quarter primarily as a result of low natural gas prices, mild winter weather and plant retirements.Operating expenses during the quarter fell 10 percent to $3.59 billion, primarily due to lower volume- and weather-related costs, as well as productivity improvements.  

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Feb
27

BNSF customers' economic development projects topped $1B in 2019

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 2/27/2020 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. announced yesterday that its customers invested $1.2 billion in developments last year.The developments supported a variety of commodities, including consumer, agricultural and industrial products in more than 100 communities across the Class I's network, BNSF officials said in a press release.Last year was the ninth consecutive year that BNSF customers and local economic development organizations spent more than $1 billion in a calendar year for new or expanded facilities, they said."BNSF strives to offer unique supply chain solutions that fit our customers’ logistical needs and help maximize their investments,” said Colby Tanner, assistant vice president of economic development. "The flexibility of our rail development program allows our customers to reach new growing markets while saving time and money.”Examples of supply chain solutions that BNSF helped its customers achieve last year included:• Ag Processing Inc., a $300 million investment a soybean processing location, the company's 10th, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The facility is expected to process more than 50 million bushels of soybeans annually and create 60 new jobs.
• Hostess Brands LLC invested $35 million in a new distribution center in Edgerton, Kansas. The project strengthened Hostess' distribution strategy with a direct connection to the U.S. supply chain through Logistics Park Kansas City.
• SeaCa Packaging, a plastics manufacturer that invested $18 million in opening its first plant location in Surprise, Arizona. The plant creates boxes for agriculture products.

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Feb
25

BNSF posts revenue decline on lower volumes in Q4, full-year 2019

Lower volumes due to severe winter weather and other factors contributed to BNSF Railway Co.'s revenue decline during fourth-quarter and full-year 2019, the Class I announced yesterday.

BNSF posted revenue of $5.8 billion for the quarter, down 6 percent, and $23.5 billion for all of 2019, down 1 percent, compared with Q4 and full-year revenue in 2018, railroad officials said in a press release.

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