BNSF Railway

STB decides against BNSF’s request to stay coal order

The Surface Transportation Board has denied a request from BNSF to halt part of an order that compels the railway to ship coal from Navajo Transitional Energy Company’s (NTEC) mine in Montana to the Pacific Northwest for export.

The board’s June order had two parts: It called for BNSF to transport a minimum of 4.2 million tons of coal on an annual basis in 2023 from the Spring Creek mine to Westshore Terminal and it called for BNSF to transport an additional 1 million annual tons in 2023 should...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/stb-decides-against-bnsfs-request-to-stay-coal-order

BNSF’s Sandpoint Junction project finally completed

After what BNSF describes as preparations of more than a decade, BNSF’s Sandpoint Junction connector bridge in Idaho is finally open and running, enabling two-way traffic across Lake Pend Oreille and thereby reducing both area congestion and idle times for trains.

The western U.S. Class I railroad ran an inaugural train over the new bridge on Sunday. 

BNSF (NYSE: BRK-B) said the final configuration — a new bridge plus an existing bridge that has been rehabilitated by BNSF — will allow for rail...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsfs-sandpoint-junction-project-finally-completed

BNSF’s Q2 earnings slide 24% on lower freight volumes

BNSF’s net income for the second quarter of 2023 fell 24% year over year (y/y) from $1.66 billion to $1.26 billion. Parent company Berkshire Hathaway attributed the second-quarter earnings decline primarily to lower overall freight volumes and higher nonfuel operating costs, which were partially offset by lower fuel costs.

Total revenues for the western U.S. Class I railroad were nearly $5.83 billion, down 12% y/y on the lower volumes, although revenue per carload was roughly flat.

Breaking down...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsfs-q2-earnings-slide-24-on-lower-freight-volumes

BNSF sues federal regulator over coal shipment mandate

Western U.S. Class I railway BNSF is suing the Surface Transportation Board for compelling  BNSF via a mandate to ship more coal from Navajo Transitional Energy Co.’s (NTEC’s) mine in Montana.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans received BNSF’s petition on July 26. BNSF’s headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, is within the 5th Circuit’s jurisdiction.

BNSF (NYSE: BRK-B) didn’t lay out its argument for why it’s suing STB in its filing to the court. However, the railway did say through...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsf-sues-federal-regulator-over-coal-shipment-mandate

Maintenance-of-way union sues BNSF over workforce shortages

The union representing maintenance-of-way (MOW) workers at BNSF is suing the railway for using contractors and not growing the ranks of MOW employees, according to a statement from the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division (BMWED).

The lawsuit is meant “to combat the carrier’s bad faith in dealing with the Union by its depletion of its Maintenance of Way workforce and its blatant disregard of contractual obligations intended to protect our members and their work,” BMWED said in a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/maintenance-of-way-union-sues-bnsf-over-workforce-shortages

Railroads reach deals with unions on sick leave, conductor training

Class I railroads BNSF and CSX have announced agreements with key labor groups: BNSF reached a sick leave and work-rest agreement with the union representing locomotive engineers, while CSX and the union representing conductors partnered to enhance CSX’s training program for conductors.

BNSF strikes sick leave and work-rest agreement with BLET

Western U.S. rail carrier BNSF has reached a systemwide agreement for sick leave with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/railroads-reach-deals-with-unions-on-sick-leave-conductor-training

NTSB: Fatal Amtrak derailment shows need for more track inspections

“Poor track conditions” of a track owned by BNSF may have contributed to a fatal September 2021 accident involving an Amtrak train derailment in Joplin, Montana, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

But NTSB’s investigation report also points to wider questions on how the freight rail industry should deploy technological tools such as autonomous track monitoring systems and what role visual inspections by a human inspector might play in inspections. The federal agency is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ntsb-fatal-amtrak-derailment-shows-need-for-more-track-inspections

Borderlands: BNSF Railway rethinks plan to build Texas logistics center after community opposition

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: BNSF Railway rethinks its plan to build a Texas logistics center after community opposition; Paschall Truck Lines adds a new cross-border terminal; Niagara Bottling will build a logistics center in Central Texas; and the Commerce Department honors three Texas-based export businesses.

BNSF Railway rethinks plan to build Texas logistics center after community opposition

BN...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/borderlands-bnsf-railway-rethinks-plan-to-build-texas-logistics-center-after-community-opposition

Sites across US primed for rail-served industrial development

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Western U.S. railroad BNSF and eastern U.S. rail carrier CSX are involved in or at least being...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/sites-across-us-primed-for-rail-served-industrial-development

BNSF to expand intermodal service in Texas

BNSF is increasing intermodal options in Texas by expanding service at the Port of Houston in response to what BNSF says is growing intermodal demand.

The western U.S. railroad plans to add more service options between the Barbours Cut Container Terminal at the Port of Houston, which has on-dock terminal capability, and BNSF’s intermodal facility at Alliance, Texas, which is nearby Dallas-Fort Worth and has benefited from expanded capacity and technology enhancements as well as existing live...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsf-to-expand-intermodal-service-in-texas

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