OREANDA-NEWS. BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) plans to invest an estimated USD 90 million on track and rail capacity improvement projects in New Mexico this year.

BNSF will make signal improvements to five main line tracks through the Belen Terminal and add a locomotive servicing pit to the yard at Belen. BNSF will also continue its robust track improvement program in New Mexico, which will include 2,100 miles of track surfacing and undercutting work, the replacement of about 160 miles of rail and more than 170,000 railroad ties, as well as significant signal upgrades for federally mandated positive train control (PTC).

The planned capital investments in New Mexico are part of BNSF's record 2013 capital commitment of USD 4.3 billion. The largest component of the capital plan is spending USD 2.3 billion on BNSF's core network and related assets. BNSF also plans to spend approximately \\$1 billion on locomotive, freight car and other equipment acquisitions, many of which will serve New Mexico. The program also includes about USD 200 million for positive train control and USD 800 million for terminal, line and intermodal expansion and efficiency projects.

Unlike other modes of transportation, U.S. freight railroads use their own private dollars, not tax dollars, to build and maintain their freight rail networks. Since the year 2000, BNSF has invested more than USD 42 billion to improve and expand its freight rail network.