Latest from BNSF

We are proud to announce the official completion of our Sandpoint Junction rail bridge project in Sandpoint, Idaho! To meet the growing needs of the communities BNSF serves, our team began construction of a second rail bridge adjacent to the existing rail bridge over Lake Pend Oreille in 2019. New bridges over Sand Creek and…

The North Coast Limited (NCL) emerged in 1900 as a response to the growing demand for transportation options to the majestic Pacific Northwest. Operated by our predecessor, the Northern Pacific Railway, the NCL offered adventurers a scenic route to iconic locations like Yellowstone Park and the Rocky Mountains. Though the NCL was initially a seasonal…

BNSF is taking significant steps to improve the automotive supply chain to meet rising demands for vehicles, even amid record-low production of components like semiconductor chips. We’re doing our part to help put the national supply chain back on track by working with car manufacturers to optimize operations. “Manufacturing is back, and manufacturers are not…

Since 2005, BNSF has been a proud host of a regional cycling event for the Special Olympics Texas team. This year’s event began with an inspiring opening ceremony parade, featuring a symbolic torch and the National Anthem. With 25 athletes participating in 500-meter or 25-kilometer bike races, it was a day filled with cycling, music,…

At BNSF, we are committed to employee professional growth. One of the opportunities we provide is our Tuition Reimbursement Program, which reimburses qualifying undergraduate and graduate education expenses. Producing 40 graduates in 2022, the program has supported individuals and helped advance their careers. One of those graduates is Assistant Division Engineer Ryan Medlin, who works…

BNSF is always looking for innovative ways to enhance safety on the rails. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC) to expand our Brake Health Effectiveness Program (BHE), which relies on new thermal detector technology to better monitor braking systems to maintain a safe rail network. As trains roll past, wayside…

BNSF plans to invest over $250 million on building projects in Washington and Oregon this year. A new siding project near Pasco and a multiyear double tracking project near Spokane, which will include new construction over the Spokane River, are both in BNSF’s $3.96 billion capital investment plan for 2023, which covers our entire 28-state…

We are proud to announce that BNSF President and Chief Executive Officer Katie Farmer was awarded 2023’s Railroader of the Year by Railway Age. Farmer has more than 30 years of experience in the rail industry. In January 2021, she was appointed president and CEO of BNSF, making history as the first woman to hold that…

Ensuring the safety of our employees and the communities we serve is our top priority, which is why BNSF closely collaborates with first responders to prepare for any emergency. While the vast majority of hazardous material shipments arrive safely at their destinations (99.99%), preparedness training is critical in preventing environmental harm, should an incident occur.…

Team BNSF had the opportunity to transport a historic Northern Pacific passenger rail car along its alma mater route one final time. Northern Pacific was one of the nearly 400 major predecessor rail lines that are now part of the BNSF network. The car found a home in Ennis, Montana, where new owner Andy Bergman…

In December, Team BNSF proudly helped deliver and place wreaths on veterans’ graves during the annual Wreaths Across America, an event that has been honoring veterans since 1992. BNSF teamed up with trucking giant J.B. Hunt to transport 227,000 wreaths, free of charge, to show support. Together, we moved more than 35 container loads, up…

In a first-of-its-kind partnership, BNSF Railway sponsored the Western Hockey League and provided an opportunity to highlight railroad careers in the PNW. Railroading and amateur hockey are a natural pairing, since both have a strong presence in five key Northwest rail communities (Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Everett, and Seattle). Through the partnership, BNSF is recognized at…

BNSF Railway Foundation proudly supports communities by funding a wide variety of arts and social service organizations and college scholarship programs. In December, we provided a $5,000 grant that funded two scholarships for young leaders to pursue advanced studies in renewable energy development through the Renewable Energy Scholarship Foundation. We also recently provided more than…

BNSF Railway is proud to be a leader in the rail industry for the protection of our air, land, and water. Joined by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, we sponsored an environmental emergency preparedness training day. During the event, first responders were taught how to contain marine spills. In attendance were Boundary County firefighters,…

The Port of Pasco will receive $3.6 million in federal funding for a last-mile rail project that will connect the port-owned Reimann Industrial Center, a 150-acre industrial hub, to BNSF’s Pasco rail yard. The funding is in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill that Congress approved in December. The project will create 200 jobs…