BNSF plans $100 million capital plan in North Dakota

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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BNSF's 2016 capital expenditure program in North Dakota will be more than $100 million, which will focus on maintenance projects that help ensure BNSF continues to operate a safe and reliable network. The largest component of this year's capital plan in the state will be for replacing and upgrading rail, rail ties and ballast.

“We’ve invested significant capital in our network in North Dakota over the past several years to meet the needs of all our customers and we’re in the state for the long run,” said Tom Albanese, BNSF general manager of operations, Twin Cities Division. “With our added capacity and our continued focus this year on maintaining our infrastructure for safe operations, our railroad is in the best shape it’s ever been in North Dakota and across our network.”

BNSF’s maintenance program in North Dakota includes more than 740 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work, the replacement of about 55 miles of rail and close to 240,000 ties, as well as signal upgrades for positive train control. This year’s capital projects in the state also include continuing the installation of Centralized Traffic Control signaling projects along the Dickinson and Jamestown subdivisions, which will help manage rail traffic while improving train flows and follow more than $1.1 billion invested by BNSF in its network in North Dakota over the past three years.

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