BNSF to spend $130M on Minnesota capital program

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
image description
Greg Gjerdingen

BNSF's 2016 capital expenditure program in Minnesota will be an estimated $130 million, which focuses on maintenance projects that help ensure the railroad continues to operate a safe and reliable network.

 

BNSF says the 2016 program will also bring capital investments more in line with forecasted customer freight service demand. The largest component of this year’s capital plan in the state will be for replacing and upgrading rail, crossties and ballast.

“The size of our operations in Minnesota makes this region important to the success of our overall network and the broader economy. Whether it is moving raw materials headed to manufacturing plants, finished products to retail stores or passengers riding on Northstar and Amtrak, which operate on our network, we remain focused on operating a safe and reliable network at all times,” said Tom Albanese, BNSF general manager of operations, Twin Cities Division.

BNSF’s maintenance program in Minnesota includes more than 360 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work, the replacement of approximately 70 miles of rail and about 375,000 ties, as well as signal upgrades for positive train control (PTC). This year’s program follows more than $550 million invested by BNSF in its network in Minnesota over the past three years.

The 2016 planned capital investments in the state are part of BNSF’s $4.3-billion network-wide capital expenditure program announced last month. These investments include $2.8 billion to replace and maintain core network and related assets, approximately $500 million on expansion and efficiency projects, $300 million for continued implementation of PTC and more than $600 million for locomotives, freight cars and other equipment acquisitions.

Tags: