Latest from BNSF

Weeks of rain and snow caused a rockslide in Washington this February, triggering a slide fence alarm along a main track. Fortunately, BNSF uses nearly 540,000 feet of rockslide detection systems across the network to help protect trains and people. When the system is activated, signals automatically reduce train speeds on both sides of the…

BNSF’s agricultural business delivered a strong year in 2025, highlighted by record performance in key commodities. Corn reached an all-time annual record and its highest level since 2018, while oilseeds and meals and ethanol also set new annual volume records. The year also brought unusual global market shifts, including a five-month pause in soybean exports…

Safety starts with people, and in 2025, BNSF’s Mechanical Division out of Vancouver, Washington, helped deliver the railroad’s best safety year in its 177-year history. This team, along with others across the country, was recognized with Safety Bell Awards, honoring outstanding performance and a shared commitment to looking out for one another every day. “I’m…

A new chapter in Pacific Northwest dairy is underway in Pasco, Washington. Darigold has opened a major processing facility at a BNSF Railway Certified Site, designed to reduce delays and speed projects from planning to operation. The 150-acre Reimann Industrial Center sits within the Port of Pasco and offers direct rail access along with utilities…

During the busiest time of year, BNSF employees across our network stepped up to support the communities they call home. One standout effort came from our team in Vancouver, Washington. Employees from the terminal, mechanical shops, and engineering departments came together to fill six large barrels with toys. Thanks to their generosity, the donations were…

December’s atmospheric river storms brought a serious test to BNSF’s Pacific Northwest network. More than 17 inches of rain fell in parts of the Cascade Range, which swelled rivers to record levels and flooded sections of track across western Washington. Four subdivisions on the Northwest Division were affected, including one with severe washouts and ballast…

For locomotive engineer Robert Burkhardt, railroading is a family legacy spanning nearly a century. Robert is a third-generation railroader, following in the footsteps of his father, William Burkhardt Jr., and grandfather, William Burkhardt Sr., both of whom worked for BNSF predecessors Northern Pacific and Burlington Northern. Robert joined Burlington Northern in 1978 as a carman…

BNSF is proud to sponsor the 2025 CHAFE 150 bicycle ride, an annual event organized by the Sandpoint Rotary Club in northern Idaho that supports literacy and student success. In August, Sandpoint Rotary presented a $50,000 check, raised through the event, to the Lake Pend Oreille School District’s Book Trust Program, which helps children build…

The arrival of the railroad helped cement Rathdrum’s place in North Idaho’s early development. The town transformed from a prairie settlement to a thriving rail hub in the 1880s, when the Northern Pacific Railway—a predecessor to BNSF Railway—brought new life and opportunities to the region. For a time, Rathdrum even outpaced nearby Spokane and Coeur…

When fire destroyed a 120‑year‑old bridge on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad earlier this summer, BNSF’s Kasie Howland didn’t hesitate to step in. The general director of line maintenance, who calls herself a “bridge nerd,” volunteered her time and expertise to help the nonprofit railroad plan its next steps. The April 30th fire consumed nearly…

For the second straight year, BNSF Railway awarded the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) with the “Tracking to Zero” award. This award is presented to states that average fewer than one grade crossing incident per one million BNSF train miles traveled in their respective jurisdictions. Idaho also received this award in 2024, the inaugural year of…

What began in 2020 as a small BMX youth team supported by local parents and a bike shop in Kent, Washington, has grown into Cycle Therapy Racing—a nonprofit co-founded by BNSF Switchman Brent Azus. “Six months after the nonprofit label was approved, we started resonating with folks who use cycling for therapy and mental health,”…

After noting that most people are visual learners, roadmaster Cameron Henderson began exploring how to integrate visual techniques into BNSF’s safety programs. “If I read a manual, even out loud, only a small amount of the population (35%) will absorb it because they are audible learners,” Henderson explained. “However, when I point my finger in…

Reading is essential, and the Rotary Club of Sandpoint is making sure kids have the tools to succeed. Every June, they host the CHAFE 150, a 150-mile bike ride fundraiser that fuels programs designed to instill a lifelong love of reading. The full route takes riders through the breathtaking landscapes of Idaho and Montana’s Rocky…

State regulators have approved nearly $20,000 in grant funding to improve safety at Sunset Junction, just west of downtown Spokane. The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is using the funds to buy 470 feet of tamper-resistant fencing, which BNSF crews will install at three high-risk trespassing spots. By closing these access points, the project aims…