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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North Idaho First Responders Practice Spill Response

North Idaho first responders engaged in two days of successful containment boom deployment practice on the Pend Oreille River at Sandpoint, Idaho. Working in conjunction with Bonner County, DEQ, ITD and EPA, BNSF and oil spill response organizations trained staff in the use of newly acquired containment boom reels. Each reel holds 2,000 feet of

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Intermodal Service Connecting the Pacific Northwest and Texas

As the largest intermodal carrier in the world, BNSF Railway now offers intermodal service between Seattle/Portland and Dallas/Fort Worth. Comparable to single-driver, over-the-road trucking options, our Pacific Northwest-Texas service operates 5 days a week and is the fastest intermodal service in the industry. With access to the largest markets in Texas, it’s the most efficient

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Rail Connects Importers and Exporters to West Coast Ports

The West Coast is the largest trading partner with Asia and the Trans-Pacific trade. BNSF freight rail is a crucial connection, providing access to markets that shippers couldn’t otherwise access. Continuing investments in the best rail infrastructure that our nation has will keep the West Coast one of the world’s top gateways.

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Treehouse Expands to Serve Youth in Foster Care

Treehouse is Washington’s leading nonprofit organization addressing the academic and other essential support needs of youth in foster care.  Treehouse helps more than 7,500 youth each year through programs that focus on their academic success, fulfill key material needs and provide important childhood experiences that every child deserves. Since 2014, the BNSF Railway Foundation has

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“Day of Caring” in Partnership with Compass Housing Alliance

BNSF’s Building Products group recently participated in a “Day of Caring” event in partnership with the Compass Housing Alliance, an organization that provides housing, shelter and support services to people experiencing homelessness and poverty in the Puget Sound region. More than 1,500 hygiene kits were produced for people in crisis by the Building Products team. 

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See Tracks – Think Train! Observing Rail Safety Week

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), the national rail safety education nonprofit, is working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation and other organizations to observe the second national Rail Safety Week (RSW), September 23-29, 2018. The first U.S. Rail Safety Week was held September 24-30, 2017, as OLI celebrated its 45th year in existence. Launching

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Demonizing Freight Rail for Political Gain

It continues to be disappointing and frustrating to see how freight rail is being demonized because of the contempt by some against coal. The latest attempt is through a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) that was released this week by the Cowlitz County Department of Building and Planning. The HIA, which is tied to Millennium Bulk

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The “First Downtown Seattle” Tunnel

Long before the SR 99 tunnel and the downtown bus/light rail tunnel, a railroad tunnel was constructed downtown between Washington and Virginia streets. A fascinating story about the tunnel is reported by Feliks Banel – broadcaster, filmmaker and historian – on mynorthwest.com. For more than 110 years, the tunnel has safely and reliably served passenger and

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Agriculture is Helping to Drive Growth

BNSF moved a record amount of agricultural shipments in 2016 and 2017, and we are continuing to move record volumes in 2018. This is driven in large part because of PNW exports.  Nearly 65 percent of the grain that BNSF carries originates from the upper plains states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana.

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