1/20/2017

Rail News: BNSF Railway

Photo – BNSF's Twitter account



BNSF Railway Co. unveiled a $3.4 billion capital expenditure plan for 2017, the Class I announced yesterday.



Similar to last year's $3.9 billion plan, the largest component of this year's program will be to replace and maintain the railroad's core network and related assets. That aspect of this year's work will amount to about $2.4 billion, BNSF officials said in a press release.



Projects will include replacing and upgrading rail, rail ties and ballast and maintaining rolling stock. This year's maintenance program will include track surfacing and/or undercutting of 20,000 miles of track, and replacement of about 600 miles of rail and nearly 3 million rail ties.



In addition, BNSF expects to spend $400 million on expansion projects; $100 million on positive train control implementation; and $400 million on locomotives, freight cars and other equipment acquisitions.



States on the BNSF network expected to receive the largest investments this year include Texas, $255 million; Illinois, $190 million; Washington, $175 million; California, $170 million; Kansas, $125 million; Missouri, $120 million; Montana, $100 million; and Nebraska, $100 million.



