September 2016

INSIDE TRACK	\|	The latest BNSF Railway information and resources for communities of the Pacific Northwest.
SEPTEMBER 2016

BNSF launches new, faster intermodal service between Pacific NW and Texas

On Monday, Sept. 12, BNSF began offering intermodal customers a new service option to move freight between the Pacific Northwest and Texas. Shippers who move commodities and a wide range of consumer goods between Portland, Ore., or Seattle and Dallas/Fort Worth (Alliance Texas) will now be able to reduce their transit times by up to two days when compared to rail transit time options currently in the marketplace. This new BNSF service is comparable in speed to single-driver, over-the-road options.

This new service option comes online just in time for the fall fruit harvest in the Pacific Northwest and will help local businesses get their products to market more efficiently. Faster, more direct routing means agriculture producers can move apples and other produce to southern markets at the peak of freshness.

By leveraging underutilized capacity in the central section of BNSF’s network, this new service option means that BNSF will offer expedited service for customers who wish to have their shipments arrive in Dallas/Fort Worth on the morning of the fifth transit day. From BNSF’s intermodal facility located just north of Fort Worth, customers can reach any of the major Texas or Oklahoma markets. Northbound service will also be faster operating with both expedited service arriving on the sixth morning and standard service reaching its destination on the sixth day.

How BNSF inspectors keep rail bridges safe

BNSF Railway’s bridge inspectors know that safety affects everyone in the communities where we operate and the people who work at the railroad. They take the responsibilities of their job personally. Watch the video by clicking the picture below.

BNSF’s annual corporate responsibility and sustainability report

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. GRI is a globally recognized reporting framework for environmental, social and governance performance. A full copy of the report is available on BNSF’s website by clicking here.

Support for BNSF veterans

The railroad’s long history of hiring veterans dates back to the Civil War, and that connection continues today because together we are a good fit. Veterans embody the core competencies essential at BNSF: leadership, teamwork and the ability to perform safely in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.


	BNSF Conductor Drew Sunagel

A 2012 study by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mental Health Services discovered an alarming rate of suicide among veterans. A new program with an eye on veterans is being piloted in Everett, Wash., in coordination with Operation Stop. As both a veteran and Everett conductor, Drew Sunagel has been selected as the first Veteran Support Advocate. He has been trained by OpStop and the local VA to direct employees to issue-appropriate resources and personnel, from mental health and substance abuse to concerns with payroll, benefits and taking leave for military duties. “I want to look out for my brothers and sisters,” he said. “I appreciate everything they’ve sacrificed for our country. And for the ones who have sacrificed the most, I just hope I can continue to do my part and live up to their service.”

Sunagel is a veteran himself. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1995-99. Since 2003, he has served in the Washington Army National Guard, and has twice deployed to Iraq for a total of three years as a combat engineer of demolition and explosives.

Rail safety tips and facts

Did you know that in 25% of the crashes occurring at highway-rail crossings — people actually run into the side of the train? It’s true! Often, it’s because the driver is going too fast for conditions, such as darkness, rainy weather or fog. As the days get shorter and more people drive home in the dark, it’s important to always stay alert around rail tracks.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has put together a great list of helpful tips and facts about staying safe.
Read more about rail safety here.

Emergencies – Call 800-832-5452

To report a vehicle stalled on a crossing, suspicious circumstances, malfunctioning crossing gates and lights or any other emergency, call 800-832-5452 immediately.

Have a Question for Us?

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