BNSF to spend $375 million on Texas capital program

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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BNSF

BNSF plans to spend more than 11 percent of its total capital program in Texas this year, with nearly half of the $375 million state plan going toward maintenance projects.

 

BNSF’s maintenance work in Texas in 2018 includes approximately 1,400 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work, as well as the replacement of nearly 40 miles of rail and more than 450,000 ties. BNSF also notes several capacity expansion projects in the state. On the Hereford Subdivision, crews will complete work this year on expansion to quadruple main line track of more than four miles through Amarillo. On the Wichita Falls Subdivision, which runs between Wichita Falls and Fort Worth, crews will complete installation of Centralized Traffic Control on the entire subdivision, install one new siding and extend another to increase capacity, as well as address increased train flows. In the Houston area on the Conroe Subdivision, construction is scheduled to begin on a new connection and siding in Dobbin to help facilitate train flows between Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston.

BNSF also anticipates the completion of expansion projects that began in 2016 at the Alliance Intermodal Facility. Those projects include adding parking capacity and acquiring lift equipment. Additionally, BNSF will begin construction to replace its existing bridge over the Trinity River near downtown Fort Worth.

“Texas has more miles of rail than any other state, with roughly 440 million tons of agricultural, energy, industrial and consumer products moving via the state’s rail lines each year. By performing regular maintenance and capacity projects in the state, BNSF is fulfilling its commitment to operate as safely, reliably and efficiently as possible,” said Janssen Thompson, general manager of operations, Red River Division.

Over the past five years, BNSF has invested nearly $1.8 billion to expand and maintain its network in Texas. The work this year is part of the railroad’s previously announced 2018 capital program of $3.3 billion. In addition to Texas, the railroad has also detailed state plans for Kansas, Montana, Missouri and Washington state.

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