BNSF Railway Company announces plan for 2021 capital investments

BNSF operates approximately 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and also operates in three Canadian provinces.

Its 2021 capital plan focuses on projects that support the company’s growth and efficiency objectives, while maintaining a strong and reliable railroad.

Katie Farmer, President and CEO of BNSF said: “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.”

The largest component of this year’s capital plan will be to replace and maintain BNSF’s core network and related assets, much like the 2020 $3.08 billion capital programme. Maintaining the railroad results in less unscheduled service outages that can slow down the rail network and reduce capacity.

The maintenance component of the 2021 plan is $2.41 billion. The projects included in this part of the plan mostly entail replacing and upgrading rail as well as track infrastructure such as ballast and rail ties (which are the main components for the tracks on which BNSF trains operate) and maintaining its rolling stock. It will include nearly 11,000 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work and the replacement of 428 miles of rail and approximately 2.6 million rail ties.

Approximately $400 million of this year’s capital plan will be for expansion and efficiency projects. On its Southern Transcon route between the West Coast and the Midwest, BNSF will continue a multi-year effort to add several segments of new double-track in eastern Kansas. Once fully completed, BNSF will have 50 miles of additional main track to support
traffic growth. In addition, in the Pacific Northwest, BNSF will continue a multi-year bridge project near Sandpoint, Idaho to increase train capacity. About $180 million of the 2021 capital plan is for freight cars and other equipment acquisitions.