Railroad News

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.