BNSF – Page 10 – Railfanning.org

Montana Sues BNSF

November 18, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

BILLINGS, Mont. — The state of Montana is suing BNSF over a 1984 settlement agreement regarding Central Montana Railway (CMR), a wholly owned subsidiary of the state. “The State’s suit primarily deals with issues that have already been before federal courts for the past four years,” BNSF said in a statement. “Many of these issues were resolved in BNSF’s favor by the federal court and arbitration panels. We intend to continue these efforts to demonstrate that our actions are legal, designed to provide Montana producers with rate transparency and protect Montana producers from excessive rail rates.”

BNSF Honors Three Shortline Railroads for Partnership Excellence

November 17, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Co. recognized three shortline railroads for their tremendous success and partnership over the past year with a BNSF Shortline Achievement Award at this year’s 14th Annual Shortline Conference on Oct. 19, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Plainsman Switching Company (PSC), Yellowstone Valley Railroad (YSVR), and Burlington Junction Railway (BJRY) were chosen because of their ability to increase the volume and development of new customers and for being good stewards in their communities. “BNSF is proud to recognize these three shortline railroads,” said Pete Rickershauser, BNSF vice president, Network Development. “Each shortline has greatly

BNSF Receives Working for Clean Air Award

November 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Co. was recognized last week as a Clean Air Champion by the North Texas Clean Air Coalition. The Working for Clean Air awards publicly recognize civic-minded businesses that have developed internal corporate programs to improve the quality of air, quality of life, and the health of the north Texas community. “BNSF is committed to operating in a way that protects the environment, our employees, our communities and the economy overall,” said Mark Schulze, vice president, Training and Operations Support. “I am proud that BNSF has been recognized for its green efforts at our corporate

BNSF, BLET Reach Tentative Agreement

November 9, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Co. announced it has reached a tentative agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen to settle wage and work rule matters concerning BNSF’s locomotive engineers for the major round of collective bargaining that will begin Jan. 1, 2010. The agreement will settle wage and work rule issues through Dec. 31, 2014. Health and welfare issues, however, will be addressed in upcoming industry-wide negotiations. BLET will release details of the new agreement to its membership as part of the ratification process. However, the agreement affords a general wage increase in each year of

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Reports Third Quarter 2009 Results

October 23, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. reported quarterly earnings of $1.42 per diluted share, which included a $0.06 per share impact related to a favorable coal rate case adjustment. This compared to third-quarter 2008 earnings of $1.99 per diluted share. “During the recession, BNSF has demonstrated significant operating leverage through ongoing dedication to controlling costs and productivity improvements,” said Matthew K. Rose, BNSF Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The combination of our significant operating leverage and long-term market opportunities places BNSF in a strong position when the economy recovers.” Third-quarter 2009 freight revenues decreased $1.28 billion,

Key Customers Get Advance Look at BNSF’s Expanded Memphis Intermodal Facility

October 20, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Company on Oct. 6 opened its Memphis Intermodal Facility for an advance look by members of its customer advisory board. The more than $200 million expansion is in its final phases of work. When fully operational in 2010, the expanded facility will have double the capacity, reduce emissions and improve air quality. The BNSF Memphis Intermodal Facility spans 185 acres and will have the capacity to handle 1 million lifts per year at full build out. The facility is equipped with eight wide-span, electric, rail-mounted gantry cranes. These cranes produce zero emissions on site

NTSB Releases Info on Fatal Iowa Wreck

October 2, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — In its continuing investigation of a freight train accident in July in Iowa, killing two, the NTSB has developed the following factual information: — At approximately 2:08 a.m. CDT on July 14, 2009, a southbound Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DME) train consisting of two locomotives and 83 freight cars collided with railcars that had been placed on a track on the west side of the Bettendorf rail yard (located in the city of Bettendorf, Iowa) by a BNSF train crew. Both of the crewmembers on the DME train, an engineer and a conductor, were fatally injured in

BNSF Burlington Bridge Upgrade Work Begins

September 23, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — Work has started to replace BNSF Railway’s 118-year-old swing span over the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa, with a modern lift span that will increase the river channel width from 150 feet to 307 feet 6 inches. The $70 million project is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2011. Construction of the lift span is being financed in part through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and previous year appropriations under the Truman-Hobbs Act, which provides federal funds for the alteration of bridges found to be unreasonably obstructive to navigation. The Truman-Hobbs Bridge

AAR: Rail Traffic Declines Continue to Slow in August

September 11, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported that while U.S. freight rail carloads declined in August, down 16.4 percent (at 1,116,182 carloads) compared with the same month last year, the percentage decline for the month was the lowest since February.

AAR Reports Recent Rail Traffic Gains Slow In Week Preceding Holiday

September 10, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

The Association of American Railroads reported that recent rail traffic gains have slowed in the week preceding the Labor Day Holiday. For the week ended Sept. 5, 2009, U.S. railroads reported originating 284,715 cars, down 6.7 percent compared with the same week in 2008. Regionally, carloadings were down 7.1 percent in the West and 6.0 percent in the East.