Ensuring Safe and Reliable Transit Through Avalanche Alley

Winter months bring extreme and unpredictable weather in the Pacific Northwest. BNSF has the tools, training and resources, including our avalanche safety program, to safely and reliably respond. Avalanche forecasters are utilized throughout a mountainous, avalanche-prone section in Glacier National Park near Essex, Montana. When pre-emptive actions are necessary, the Daisybell, an environmentally-sensitive technology device

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Partnering Effectively to Address Community Needs

The BNSF Railway Foundation rounded out a year of giving with contributions to key organizations that make significant impacts in the communities we serve including: Inchelium Language and Culture Association Inchelium is committed to the revitalization and preservation of tribal languages of the traditional territories of Colville people including Southern British Columbia. BNSF contributed $20,000 to the

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Replacing the Washougal River Bridge to Meet Future Demands

BNSF is committed to ongoing maintenance and upgrading of its infrastructure – including bridges – to keep train traffic moving safely and efficiently. Originally built in 1908, the Washougal River Railroad Bridge at Camas, Wash. helped drive economic growth in the Pacific Northwest, but the bridge was in need of replacement to ensure safety and

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Matt Rose Talks Railroads

Railway Age recently produced a leadership profile of BNSF’s Executive Chairman Matt Rose. Rose sat down with editor-in-chief William Vantuono for a wide-ranging interview reflecting on his distinguished career and exploring issues including safety, finances, growth, commuter rail and the future of railroads. A notable reflection from Rose: Less is not better. He states, “We are

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Washington State Benefits from USMCA Agreement

A recently released Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT) analysis concludes Washington state companies and workers gain from the newly signed US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Canada and Mexico are the U.S.’ second and third largest trading partners, and the two counties have been leading markets for Washington state goods exported including in the key areas of

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35 million Equipment Readings are Beamed to Fort Worth Every Day

BNSF utilizes advanced technology to improve safety and enhance efficiency across our railroad.  BNSF deploys more than 4,000 wayside detectors across our network that work in conjunction with our sophisticated predictive analytics tools to evaluate and act upon vast amounts of data, making our operations safer and more efficient. These systems can identify potential safety

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Native American Tribes and BNSF Team up on Spill Response Exercise

BNSF’s network crosses 32 Native American reservations including in the Pacific Northwest.  The company works closely with tribes to be better prepared to respond in the unlikely event of a derailment that results in a spill. Recently, tribal representatives and BNSF trained together near the Upriver Dam in Spokane. “Working together with the tribes helps us

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Seattle Employees Help Feed the Homeless

As part of our company’s commitment to supporting the communities that we serve, BNSF employees in Seattle helped to distribute food to people in need at St. Vincent de Paul of Seattle and King County’s food bank in Georgetown. In 2017, St. Vincent de Paul of Seattle and King County’s Georgetown food bank assisted over

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Happy Birthday to Washington State – 130 years of Statehood in 2019!

BNSF’s roots go back before statehood.  By 1892, predecessor company Northern Pacific Railroad Company was offering through service between Minneapolis and Sitka on its trains and steamers.  A roundtrip train ticket between Minneapolis and Seattle was offered for $80 (roughly $2,200 in today’s dollars).

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New Technology Saves Fuel, Reduces Emissions

BNSF upgraded more than 460 locomotives in 2017 with technology focused on increasing fuel efficiency. More than 60 percent of our active road fleet locomotives utilize an energy management system to maximize fuel efficiency and train handling by optimizing throttle and brake use. Approximately 98 percent of our locomotives are equipped with automatic engine start/stop

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BNSF Railway Foundation supports National Native American Veterans Memorial

The BNSF Railway Foundation announces its support for a new National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. Over the past two centuries, Native Americans have served in the U.S. military in every major war or conflict. The National Museum of the American Indian seeks to honor the tens of thousands of Native American men

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UTV Ready to Rescue in Dupont

The City of Dupont, Washington, was awarded a $20,000 grant by the BNSF Railway Foundation to help the city’s Fire Department acquire a new Utility Task Vehicle (UTV), which will be used to provide quick access to areas, such as trails, that can’t be reached by larger vehicles.

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Spokane/Hauser Terminal teams up with Boys & Girls Club of Spokane

Before the start of the new school year, BNSF employees from the Spokane/Hauser Terminal spent an afternoon filling backpacks with school supplies for children in need.  Over the course of an afternoon, 20 BNSF employees filled 26 backpacks.  Each backpack was filled with traditional school supplies such as notebooks, binders, highlighters and pencils, but volunteers

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Boundary County Sheriff’s Vehicles Equipped with Defibrillators

Every Boundary County Sheriff’ Office vehicle now comes equipped with a life saving device – an automated external defibrillator (AED) – thanks to a grant from the BNSF Railway Foundation. The portable devices can diagnose life-threatening cardiac conditions and deliver a shock, know as a defibrillation, which allows the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.

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New Rail Bridge Planned for Lake Washington Ship Canal

BNSF is planning for the replacement of the rail bridge which spans the Lake Washington Ship Canal between Seattle’s Magnolia and Ballard neighborhoods.  The bridge is a critical link to BNSF’s network to the north, south and east.  About 30 to 40 trains cross the bridge daily, including Sounder and Amtrak passenger trains. Manufacturers, distributors

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