BNSF forges ahead with capacity expansion projects despite downturn

FORT WORTH, Texas – BNSF Railway takes a long-term view and will continue to invest in maintaining and expanding its network every year even during economic downturns, Chief Operating Officer Katie Farmer says. “As our volume fluctuates, our job is basically to match our resources with that demand,” Farmer says, in terms of the railroad’s […]

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BNSF, UP struggle to meet surging intermodal demand in Southern California

BNSF Railway and Union Pacific are facing varying degrees of congestion from a spike in domestic intermodal volume in Southern California. The railroads reported significant week-over-week overall intermodal volume increases as of July 18, with UP’s volume up 10% and BNSF’s up 8%, according to their weekly Association of American Railroads carload reports. The surge […]

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Digest: Metra to add trains on Rock Island, BNSF lines

Overhead view of commuter train

Monday midday rail news: Metra to add trains on Rock Island, BNSF lines Reflecting increasing ridership as the Chicago area reopens after COVID-19 shutdowns, Metra will add express trains to service on its BNSF and Rock Island lines next week, while schedules will be adjusted on two Electric District train. The new services will include […]

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BNSF launches intermodal service between Seattle and CSX terminal in Ohio

FORT WORTH, Texas – BNSF Railway this week launched domestic intermodal service between Seattle and CSX Transportation’s Northwest Ohio Intermodal Terminal. “This new container-only service will initially be offered five days a week for both eastbound and westbound freight originating and terminating at our South Seattle Intermodal Facility,” BNSF said in a message to customers […]

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MBTA awards $195 million contract for South Coast Rail project NEWSWIRE

MBTA

More Tuesday morning rail news: — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has awarded a $159 million contract for two new stations and other work related to its South Coast Rail project, which will extend the existing Middleborough/Lakeville commuter line and create lines to Fall River and New Bedford. Boston.com reports the contract, to Skanska DW […]

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BNSF closing two facilities in Wyoming, cutting 122 jobs NEWSWIRE

BNSF Railway logo

Still more Thursday rail news: — BNSF Railway will close two facilities in Wyoming, laying off 122 workers, in part reflecting the declining market for coal. The Casper Star-Tribune reports the railroad will close its Guernsey shops in June and its Donkey Creek facility in July. “Similar to the size of our train, yard and […]

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BNSF lays off workers in Glendive, Topeka NEWSWIRE

BNSF Railway logo

More Thursday morning rail news: — BNSF Railway will close its Glendive, Mont., diesel shop and is also laying off workers in Topeka, Kan. KXGN-TV is reporting that, in a letter to employees, BNSF’s Gary Grissum, vice president of mechanical, told affected shop employees in a letter that the closure reflected the current business environment […]

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BNSF’s first-quarter profit slides because of pandemic NEWSWIRE

BNSF_Earnings_Lassen

A BNSF manifest freight heads east through Naperville, Ill., on April 20, 2020. BNSF saw first-quarter earnings fall as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. TRAINS: David Lassen OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF Railway’s first-quarter revenue and profits declined as traffic volumes sank due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the railroad’s parent company, Berkshire Hathaway, reported on […]

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White House reviewing reopening guidelines for transit systems NEWSWIRE

Metra_Mask_Lassen

A masked Metra BNSF crewman boards his train after watching passengers board at Naperville, Ill., on April 20, 2020. The White House is reviewing guidelines for transit agencies as part of its plan to restart the nation’s economy. TRAINS: David Lassen Still more Wednesday morning rail news: — The White House is reviewing guidelines for […]

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Tips for identifying modern diesel locomotives

Moderndieselidentification

Many readers have asked how we identify the current crop of big, modern road diesels. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy, as many locomotive designs have evolved into a family of similar looking locomotives. This means modelers have to study the details to figure out what locomotive is represented by a specific scale model. Comparing the model […]

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BNSF freight train derails, puts cars into Mississippi River NEWSWIRE

BNSF Railway logo

EAST DUBUQUE, Iowa — BNSF Railway confirms in a customer advisory that one of its trains derailed on the Aurora Subdivision Monday morning. The advisory says both BNSF main tracks were affected after a derailment at 10:53 am. Central time. The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald newspaper reports that more than five cars derailed and that some landed […]

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