California rail gang doing weld replacement. Photo: courtesy of BNSF.
BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has announced that its capital expenditure plan for 2017 will be approximately $3.4 billion. The largest component of the plan, expected to be $2.4 billion, will be used to replace and maintain BNSF’s core network and related assets. Projects included in this part of the plan will primarily be for replacing and upgrading rail, rail ties and maintaining its rolling stock.
“Each year we establish a capital plan that reflects the future needs of our customers and the constant need to keep our infrastructure in good working condition,” said Carl Ice, BNSF president and CEO. “This year’s capital plan ensures we continue to operate a safe and reliable rail network while capturing the new opportunities our customers will present to us.”
“Our ongoing investments, along with the outstanding efforts of our employees, resulted in the lowest number of derailments in company history last year," continued Ice. “The strength and condition of our railroad today gives us the confidence that we will operate safely in the communities we serve and meet our customers’ expectations of reliable and consistent service.”
This year’s maintenance program will include approximately 20,000 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work and the replacement of about 600 miles of rail and nearly 3 million rail ties. BNSF stated that $400 million will be used for expansion projects, $100 million for implementing positive train control and $400 million for locomotives, freight cars and other equipment acquisitions.
BNSF expects that the largest investments in 2017 will include $225 million in Texas, $190 million in Illinois, $175 million in Washington, $170 million in California, $125 million in Kansas, $120 million in Missouri, $100 million in Montana, and $100 million in Nebraska.