05.03.2016, 01:02
BNSF Plans USD 100 Million Capital Program in North Dakota for 2016
OREANDA-NEWS. BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) today announced that its 2016 capital expenditure program in North Dakota will be more than USD 100 million. This year's plan in North Dakota is primarily focused on maintenance projects that help ensure BNSF continues to operate a safe and reliable network and reflects the success BNSF has had in adding capacity in prior years to support customer demand.
The 2016 program will also bring capital investments more in line with forecasted customer freight service demand. The largest component of this year's capital plan in the state will be for replacing and upgrading rail, rail ties and ballast, which are the main components for the tracks on which BNSF trains operate. Regular maintenance of the railroad allows BNSF to keep its network infrastructure in optimal condition and reduces the need for unscheduled service work that can slow down the BNSF rail network and reduce capacity.
"We've invested significant capital in our network in North Dakota over the last several years to meet the needs of all our customers, and we're in the state for the long run," said Tom Albanese, BNSF general manager of operations, Twin Cities Division. "With our added capacity and our continued focus this year on maintaining our infrastructure for safe operations, our railroad is in the best shape it's ever been in North Dakota and across our network."
BNSF's maintenance program in North Dakota includes more than 740 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work, the replacement of about 55 miles of rail and close to 240,000 ties, as well as signal upgrades for federally mandated positive train control (PTC). This year's capital projects in the state also include continuing the installation of Centralized Traffic Control signaling projects along the Dickinson and Jamestown subdivisions, which will help manage rail traffic while improving train flows, and follow more than USD 1.1 billion invested by BNSF in its network in North Dakota over the past three years.
The 2016 planned capital investments in the state are part of BNSF's USD 4.3 billion network-wide capital expenditure program announced last month. These investments include USD 2.8 billion to replace and maintain core network and related assets, approximately USD 500 million on expansion and efficiency projects, USD 300 million for continued implementation of PTC and more than USD 600 million for locomotives, freight cars and other equipment acquisitions.
The 2016 program will also bring capital investments more in line with forecasted customer freight service demand. The largest component of this year's capital plan in the state will be for replacing and upgrading rail, rail ties and ballast, which are the main components for the tracks on which BNSF trains operate. Regular maintenance of the railroad allows BNSF to keep its network infrastructure in optimal condition and reduces the need for unscheduled service work that can slow down the BNSF rail network and reduce capacity.
"We've invested significant capital in our network in North Dakota over the last several years to meet the needs of all our customers, and we're in the state for the long run," said Tom Albanese, BNSF general manager of operations, Twin Cities Division. "With our added capacity and our continued focus this year on maintaining our infrastructure for safe operations, our railroad is in the best shape it's ever been in North Dakota and across our network."
BNSF's maintenance program in North Dakota includes more than 740 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work, the replacement of about 55 miles of rail and close to 240,000 ties, as well as signal upgrades for federally mandated positive train control (PTC). This year's capital projects in the state also include continuing the installation of Centralized Traffic Control signaling projects along the Dickinson and Jamestown subdivisions, which will help manage rail traffic while improving train flows, and follow more than USD 1.1 billion invested by BNSF in its network in North Dakota over the past three years.
The 2016 planned capital investments in the state are part of BNSF's USD 4.3 billion network-wide capital expenditure program announced last month. These investments include USD 2.8 billion to replace and maintain core network and related assets, approximately USD 500 million on expansion and efficiency projects, USD 300 million for continued implementation of PTC and more than USD 600 million for locomotives, freight cars and other equipment acquisitions.
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