Railroad News

BNSF Railway Co. announced plans to invest more than $1.5 billion to construct a state-of-the-art, master-planned rail facility in Southern California.

The Barstow International Gateway will be a 4,500-acre integrated rail facility on the west side of Barstow, consisting of a rail yard, intermodal facility and warehouses for transloading freight from international containers to domestic containers.

A $25 million grant from the federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program has been awarded to help fund the Salmon Bay Bridge project in western Washington.

Owned by BNSF Railway Co., the 108-year-old bridge is an integral rail link along which 30 to 40 freight, commuter and intercity passenger trains cross each day. The INFRA funds will be used to replace the drawbridge's mechanical system, extending the structure's operational life by decades.

BNSF Railway Co. yesterday announced the winners of its inaugural Sustainability Awards, which recognize customers for making operations more sustainable.

The six 2022 winners are U.S. Steel subsidiary Big River Steel, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., Ford Motor Co., Global Clean Energy Holdings, J.B. Hunt Transportation Services Inc. and Marathon Petroleum Corp.

In the second quarter, BNSF Railway Co. boosted revenue 14% to $6.6 billion and increased operating income 7% to $2.4 billion compared with second-quarter 2021 figures.

However, volume decreased 6% to 2.47 million units, operating expenses shot up 19% to $4.3 billion and the operating ratio climbed 2.8 points to 63.2, according to the Class I’s Q2 financial performance summary.

BNSF Railway Co., in partnership with the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), yesterday announced the opening of a new rail hub at the Port of Tacoma in Washington to meet growing intermodal demand.

The South Tacoma intermodal facility is part of a joint effort between the Class I and J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. announced in March. The two companies aim to substantially improve capacity in the Pacific Northwest intermodal market, BNSF officials said in a press release.

BNSF Railway Co. recently honored its Safety Employees of the Year for 2021.

The awards recognize outstanding BNSF leaders modeling safety across the major operations teams, including engineering, mechanical and transportation. Those recognized by the annual program "demonstrate BNSF’s vision and values through their commitment, leadership and focus on working safety and efficiently," BNSF officials said in the Class I's "Inside Track" newsletter.

The San Bernardino City Council last week certified the final environmental impact report for BNSF Railway Co.'s proposed gap closure project at its intermodal yard in the Southern California city.

The project is designed to expedite the flow of trains through the yard. About 4.3 miles of a new fourth main track will be added in two segments along the current BNSF corridor from the Class I's overpass at State Street/University Parkway to the intermodal facility.