BNSF to invest $160 million in Washington projects
BNSF Railway plans to invest $160 million in Washington this year to ensure BNSF continues to operate a safe and reliable rail network. The largest component of maintenance plan will be for replacing and upgrading rail, rail ties and ballast, which are the main components for the tracks on which BNSF trains operate.
This year, the maintenance program in Washington includes:
- Approximately 490 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work
- Replacement of about 40 miles of rail and close to 230,000 ties
- Install new double-track between Washougal and Mt. Pleasant
- Begin to install new double-track along the Spokane Subdivision between Hauser, Idaho and Spokane.
- Two bridge replacement projects in Home Valley and North Bonneville
- Construction of a new unloading track and additional parking capacity at the Orillia Automotive Facility
Since 2012, BNSF has invested approximately $940 million to expand and maintain its network in Washington state.
The 2018 planned capital investments in the state are part of BNSF’s $3.3 billion network-wide capital expenditure program. These investments include $2.4 billion to replace and maintain core network and related assets, approximately $500 million on expansion and efficiency projects and $100 million for continued implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC). BNSF is the only Class I freight railroad to have completed the installation of PTC on all its federally mandated subdivisions and is currently running hundreds of trains daily with PTC as it tests the system across its mandated territory. |