BNSF Thanks Crews for Clearing Infrastructure of Ice and Snow After Winter Weather

FORT MADISON, Iowa – BNSF Crews have worked to clear ice and snow from infrastructure and reduce train restrictions across the Northern Corridor after severe winter weather.

Via LinkedIn, BNSF thanked its crews for working to clear snow and ice from track and switches in Iowa and Wisconsin after severe winter weather. In an update, the Class I reported on its crews working in freezing temperatures across the Northern Corridor to restore service as “service interruptions remain elevated.” Because of the crews’ hard work, “the number of trains being held as receded” as its crews have taken advantage of improved conditions to assess and address affected infrastructure.

In preparation of the winter weather, BNSF reports it had called upon “all available resources” to restore operations. In addition, it added locomotives to “help generate proper air flow for trains’ braking systems and expedite gains in network velocity and fluidity to move the trains forced to hold for an extended time due to weather-related issues.” As the weather has slowly improved, BNSF reports it has been able to lift some train restrictions and run longer trains. However, in areas where the weather has not improved, those train restrictions remain in place, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, where another winter storm is currently developing.

BNSF is “confident the solid condition of the network going into the event, coupled with the resources deployed and investments we’ve made to strengthen our railway against severe weather, will help expedite a strong and quick recovery from this widespread weather event.”