BNSF plans $265 million in Colorado, Montana for 2015 capex

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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BNSF detailed more of its plans for its record-setting $6-billion capital program with $124 million estimated to be spend in Montana and $141 million in Colorado.

 

“This year’s substantial investments in Montana are a clear reflection of how important our operations in the state are to our overall network and our unwavering commitment to always operating safely – for our people and the communities in which we operate,” said Dan Fransen, BNSF general manager operations Montana Division.

BNSF’s maintenance program in Montana will include 1,227 miles of track surfacing and undercutting work, the replacement of 52 miles of rail and about 345,000 ties as well as signal upgrades for positive train control (PTC).

BNSF’s 2015 capital projects in Montana include starting the grading for four miles of double track along the Glasgow subdivision. The project, which ends at the Snowden Junction, will be completed in 2016. When the Glasgow subdivision project is complete, there will be 114 miles of double track from North Dakota to Montana. Another project in Montana will improve the tracks from Crane to Snowden Junction. Both these projects will greatly improve capacity on this heavily-trafficked route.

BNSF’s 2015 capital projects in Colorado include extending the sidings along the Brush subdivision in Bijou, Crest, Hudson, Messex, Roggen and Tonville. The work on extending the sidings in Barr, Keensburg, New Hillrose and Wiggins will also start this year, but will be completed in 2016. The siding at Messex will also be converted to Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) to help manage rail traffic. BNSF crews will construct a new siding west of Commerce City enabling trains on the same line to pass resulting in better train capacity. The plans also includes extending the tracks at the Denver and

The program in Colorado will include 580 miles of track surfacing and undercutting work, the replacement of nearly 16 miles of rail and close to 123,500 ties, as well as signal upgrades for PTC.

In addition to Colorado and Montana, since announcing its plans to invest $6-billion in its system in 2015, the railroad has outlined specific state plans for Nebraska, Minnesota, Washington state, Illinois, North Dakota, Texas, Missouri and Wisconsin.

 

 

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