BNSF Plans $124 Million Capital Program In Montana

BNSF has announced a capital program for its operations in Montana will be an estimated $124 million for rail maintenance and capacity improvement projects. Unlike other modes of freight transportation, U.S. railroads own and maintain their own networks.

“This year’s substantial investments in Montana are a clear reflection of how important our operations in the state are to our overall network and our unwavering commitment to always operating safely – for our people and the communities in which we operate,” said Dan Fransen, BNSF general manager operations Montana Division. “We know our customers are competing in a fast-paced, global economy where a smooth, efficient supply chain can be the difference between winning and losing in the marketplace. This year’s planned expansion and maintenance projects will help give BNSF the capacity flexibility it needs to support our customers’ growing demands and connect Montana products to key markets.”

Continuous maintenance of BNSF’s infrastructure ensures a safe and reliable network. BNSF’s maintenance program in Montana will include 1,227 miles of track surfacing and undercutting work, the replacement of 52 miles of rail and about 345,000 ties as well as signal upgrades for federally-mandated positive train control (PTC).

The planned capital investments in Montana are part of BNSF’s record 2015 capital commitment of $6 billion, which was announced last November and is the company’s largest planned capital expenditure in its history.