BNSF customers significantly decrease their carbon footprint by converting their shipments from trucks to trains. A single double-stack intermodal train removes several hundred long-haul freight trucks from the highway. In fact, no other form of land freight transportation is by its very nature more fuel- and resource-efficient than rail. Rail also provides tremendous benefits by…
Read More
By converting more of their shipping from trucks to trains, BNSF customers are significantly decreasing their carbon footprint. A single double-stack intermodal train removes more than 280 long-haul freight trucks from the highway. Shipping with BNSF intermodal instead of using entirely over-the-road solutions enabled BNSF customers to reduce their total carbon emissions by 34 million…
Read More
Praising our “efforts benefiting fish, water quality, habitat and habitat connectivity,” the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) gave BNSF its 2016 WSDOT Environmental Excellence Award. The Otter Creek Restoration Project in Lewis County, Washington, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, was part of BNSF’s new track construction near Kalama, Washington. BNSF worked…
Read More
BNSF is deploying new technologies designed to reduce emissions, which include: Idle control: Idle-control mechanisms reduce air emissions and fuel consumption by automatically shutting down locomotives that aren’t being used. About 90 percent of our more than 8,000 locomotives have idle-control technology, and all new locomotives we purchase are equipped with this technology. We continue to…
Read More
It was disappointing to read the final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that the Washington Department of Ecology released on the Millennium Bulk Terminals project, and the subsequent public tweets from the agency concerning this document. The FEIS makes several faulty assumptions about BNSF Railway’s operations, resulting in conclusions that overstate, in a counterproductive manner, the…
Read More
In early April, installers from the City of Spokane began replacing outdated lights with energy-efficient, Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures in under-lit railroad underpasses between Stevens and Walnut. In addition to energy efficiency, the new fixtures will emit a clearer white light, increasing visibility and providing a safer and more secure passage underneath the railroad…
Read More
The agreement we reached with the plaintiffs reflects BNSF’s long-term efforts to address coal dust, and it is important to note by reaching this agreement, it allows us to continue that practice without distraction of a prolonged legal battle. They originally sued BNSF for $4.6 trillion, and our settlement of $1 million, which will fund…
Read More
Today BNSF announced a tentative settlement in the long-running lawsuit over alleged coal dust emissions from railcars in Washington state. The tentative settlement reflects BNSF Railway’s long-term efforts to address coal dust and allows us to continue that practice without the distraction of a prolonged legal battle. Plaintiffs originally sued BNSF for $4.6 trillion, claiming that coal dust…
Read More
At BNSF, we are constantly striving to improve our environmental performance. We want to highlight a few examples from our recent sustainability report. Did you know: Freight rail relieves urban traffic congestion and reduces carbon and other emissions. In fact, BNSF customers reduced their collective carbon footprint by 34 million metric tons in 2015, equal to…
Read More
On September 15th, BNSF issued its annual Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report. The report highlights the company’s focus on continuing to enhance safety as well as efforts to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions through more sustainable operations. . The report was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.…
Read More
BNSF leads the industry in having the newest and cleanest-burning locomotive fleet. Over the last 10 years 40% of our fleet has been replaced to more energy efficient locomotives. Rail is already the most fuel and resource efficient means for moving large volumes of freight. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, of all the greenhouse…
Read More
Connecting the Pacific Northwest since 1873
© 2025 BNSF Railway Company. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact Us
