BNSF and YSVR enhance operational coordination to serve growing Montana rail demand

BNSF Railway and Yellowstone Valley Railroad will amend their lease agreement this fall on the rail route between Snowden and Glendive, Mont. BNSF will provide service for unit trains and YSVR will provide service for all other traffic along the line between Snowden and Crane. BNSF will serve all customers between Crane and Glendive and handle bridge traffic between Snowden and Glendive. BNSF will also assume the dispatching and maintenance of the entire Snowden to Glendive line. "The tremendous growth of oil production in the Williston Basin and the Bakken Shale formation over the last several years has resulted in significant increases in traffic volumes in and out of this area," said Dean Wise, BNSF vice president, network strategy. "This amended agreement will allow BNSF and YSVR to respond to the changing demands of our customers, improve direct service and unit train handling efficiencies and continue to invest to serve this rapidly growing part of the Montana and North Dakota economies." "This unique agreement will help to improve service for all customers in the area," said Bill Goldsberry, YSVR general manager. "We will be able to more effectively coordinate operations, enabling both railroads to focus on their strengths and continue to meet customer demand."