Category: BNSF

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BNSF Railway announced its safety results for 2025, marking the safest year in the company’s 177-year history. One of North America’s largest freight transportation providers, BNSF achieved record-setting performance across key safety metrics.

Operating a 32,500-mile network with approximately 35,000 employees, the company reported its lowest-ever employee injury frequency rate—10 percent lower than its previous record set in 2023. BNSF also recorded a 13 percent reduction in rail equipment incidents, exceeding its 2025 target and reinforcing its position as an industry safety leader for more than a decade.

BNSF President and CEO Katie Farmer credited the achievement to the dedication of the entire workforce and the company’s ongoing commitment to its vision of operating a railroad free of accidents and injuries. Vice President of Safety Chad Sundem echoed that sentiment, highlighting strong collaboration between labor and management and a shared belief that safety guides every decision.

© 2026 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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BNSF Railway has unveiled a $3.6 billion capital investment plan for 2026, reinforcing its commitment to operating a safe, reliable, and future-ready rail network.

“Our 2026 capital plan focuses on strengthening and modernizing our network so we can continue to meet our customers’ evolving needs,” said BNSF President and CEO Katie Farmer. She emphasized that the investments are aimed at improving efficiency, expanding capacity, and ensuring the railroad is well positioned to support long-term growth while delivering consistent, resilient service.

The largest share of the 2026 investment—$2.8 billion—will be directed toward maintenance of the existing network. These efforts are designed to keep infrastructure in top condition, reduce unscheduled service disruptions, and preserve system capacity. Maintenance work will include rail and track upgrades, ballast and rail tie replacement, and rolling stock upkeep. Planned projects include surfacing or undercutting approximately 13,000 miles of track, replacing 2.5 million rail ties, and installing more than 400 miles of new rail.

An additional $358 million will be invested in expansion and efficiency projects, building on the $2.6 billion BNSF has invested in network expansion over the past five years. Key initiatives include continued development of the Barstow International Gateway project in California and the start of construction activities for a future intermodal facility in the Phoenix area. Line expansion projects at the Galesburg, Illinois, and Winslow, Arizona, yards will also enhance switching capacity, supporting improved service performance and asset productivity across the network.

© 2026 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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BNSF Railway and Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. celebrated the opening of BNSF’s new intermodal facility in Oklahoma City on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by state and city leaders, including Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Tim Gatz and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt.

The 42-acre Class I railroad facility, which officially opened Dec. 31, is designed to provide a more efficient and cost-effective supply chain solution for Hobby Lobby. The arts and crafts retailer sought a streamlined way to move loaded containers from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach directly to its network of Oklahoma City distribution centers.

BNSF Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Tom Williams said the expansion reflects the railroad’s commitment to customer-driven growth. Hobby Lobby Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jon Cargill called the facility “a new day” for both the company and Oklahoma City, noting it will allow goods to reach stores more efficiently while expanding access to global markets for Oklahoma businesses.

City and state leaders emphasized the project’s long-term economic and environmental benefits. At full capacity, the facility could remove up to 40,000 truck trips annually from highways between Dallas–Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, reducing congestion and emissions. In the future, the site will also offer Oklahoma farmers and other businesses new opportunities to export goods to the West Coast.

© 2026 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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At the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers winter meeting on January 14, 2026, BNSF CEO Katie Farmer signaled a steady approach to capital investment for the year ahead. She indicated that BNSF’s 2026 capital spending is expected to be in line with 2025 levels, which totaled approximately $3.8 billion.

The investment will focus on maintaining the railroad’s infrastructure while continuing to enhance safety and improve the customer experience. Farmer’s comments underscore BNSF’s commitment to long-term reliability and service quality, even as the broader transportation and economic environment evolves.

© 2026 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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BNSF marked a significant rail safety achievement on Dec. 9, 2025, with the full implementation of positive train control (PTC) technology on the former Montana Rail Link (MRL) lines. The rollout began in June with 36 miles placed into service, followed by three additional segments, bringing the total to more than 216 miles of PTC protection on the MRL Subdivision within BNSF’s Montana Division.

The milestone reflects more than two decades of investment by BNSF in PTC, a critical safety system designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, derailments caused by excessive speed, and unauthorized train movements. PTC also protects employees working on the track and ensures trains do not move through switches that are improperly aligned.

Across its network, BNSF has installed PTC on nearly 17,000 miles of track—well above the approximately 15,000 miles mandated by the Federal Railroad Administration. According to Phil Mullen, director of Network Control Systems, BNSF chose early on to exceed regulatory requirements to enhance safety for employees, the public, and the communities it serves. The MRL installation was completed four months ahead of the federal deadline through close coordination between network control, signal teams, and Montana Division leadership.

PTC integrates digital wireless communications, GPS, and onboard computing to provide locomotive crews with real-time information on speed limits, authority boundaries, work zones, and upcoming signals and switches. By issuing warnings and automatically stopping trains when necessary, the system not only prevents violations but also improves situational awareness and operational efficiency. As BNSF continues to refine and expand PTC, the technology remains a cornerstone of the company’s commitment to safe and efficient rail operations.

© 2026 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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On December 19, BNSF President and CEO Katie Farmer issued a statement responding to Union Pacific’s merger application filing with the Surface Transportation Board (STB), reiterating BNSF’s strong opposition to the deal.

Farmer said that while BNSF is still reviewing the filing, nothing seen so far changes the company’s view that the merger would harm competition and pose long-term risks to the U.S. economy and consumers. She warned that the transaction would reduce shipping options, drive up freight rates, and ultimately increase prices for consumers, while delivering benefits primarily to shareholders rather than customers.

Citing past rail mergers, Farmer emphasized the risk of serious service disruptions and broader economic impacts. She noted that the STB’s strengthened merger rules require applicants to prove their deal enhances competition and serves the public interest—standards BNSF believes Union Pacific has failed to meet.

Farmer concluded that BNSF remains focused on achieving operational improvements through partnerships and collaboration, which she said can deliver immediate, tangible benefits to customers without the risks of a merger.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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BNSF Railway has asked the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to immediately review and enforce conditions established during the 1996 Union Pacific–Southern Pacific merger, saying Union Pacific (UP) has spent decades undermining competition and limiting customer choice.

In a new petition, BNSF argues that UP has repeatedly obstructed efforts to preserve competitive rail service that the STB required as a condition of approving the historic merger. Despite negotiations, oversight proceedings, and formal petitions over the years, BNSF says many shippers now have fewer rail options than before UP absorbed Southern Pacific.

“With UP now proposing another unprecedented merger, this time with Norfolk Southern, the stakes for shippers nationwide could not be higher,” said Jill Mulligan, BNSF’s Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. She urged the STB to ensure that commitments made nearly 30 years ago are honored before regulators consider any new consolidation.

BNSF’s filing asks the STB to review how the original merger conditions have been implemented, enforce BNSF’s competitive access rights, and modify existing conditions if necessary to protect the public interest. The railroad is also seeking a procedural schedule so all parties can fully present evidence.

BNSF argues that fair competition is essential for reliable service and reasonable rates, and says UP’s persistent resistance to the 1996 conditions must be resolved before any new merger reshapes the industry and impacts supply chains nationwide.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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BNSF Railway and COFC Logistics announced a major expansion of COFC’s intermodal service network, extending coverage into the eastern United States and Monterrey, Mexico, through a partnership with GMXT.

The move will provide Intermodal Marketing Companies (IMCs)—particularly asset-light operators—with broader container availability, new market access, and scalable solutions across North America. The expansion includes entry into key Northeast and Southeast U.S. markets, along with seven new ramp pairs and enhanced service schedules tailored to IMCs.

“This expansion is about empowering IMCs with the tools they need to compete and grow,” said Jonathan Mulch, COFC Logistics Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Our asset-light partners can now tap into a broader ecosystem with confidence in our service reliability.”

BNSF Group Vice President of Consumer Products Jon Gabriel added, “By opening and connecting a network across more of North America, we’re not just adding lanes—we’re adding opportunity to the supply chain.”

Luis Hernandez, GMXT Vice President of Intermodal, noted that the partnership strengthens capacity and service quality for cross-border trade.

With expanded container access, optimized schedules, and new market reach, the initiative aims to give IMCs greater flexibility, efficiency, and growth opportunities in the competitive intermodal logistics sector.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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BNSF Railway will open a 42-acre intermodal facility in Oklahoma City this November, offering streamlined and cost-efficient transportation options for Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

The project stems from a partnership with the Oklahoma City-based retailer, which sought a simpler and more economical way to move containers from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to its local distribution network.

“This expansion shows how we listen to our customers’ needs and deliver solutions that create shared growth opportunities across the region,” said Jon Gabriel, BNSF Group Vice President of Consumer Products. He noted the facility could eventually eliminate up to 40,000 truck moves from highways each year.

Hobby Lobby CFO Jon Cargill said the partnership will help the company maintain efficiency while continuing to provide value to customers.

Looking ahead, the facility will also be available to Oklahoma farmers and other businesses for exports to the West Coast.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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BNSF Railway and CSX Transportation announced the launch of new intermodal service options designed to give shippers seamless, efficient coast-to-coast solutions.

The expanded offerings include direct domestic routes linking Southern California with Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida, as well as a new service connecting Phoenix, Arizona, and Atlanta, Georgia. The latter aims to shift freight from highway to rail through a smooth handoff between the two railroads.

On the international side, new direct intermodal services will connect the Port of New York and New Jersey, and Norfolk, Virginia, with Kansas City. To further support growth, BNSF will also add two new 10,000-foot sidings between Phoenix and Flagstaff, improving efficiency on its busy Southern Transcon corridor.

“This collaboration between BNSF and CSX demonstrates the power of partnership, delivering greater flexibility, efficiency, and value for our customers,” said Jon Gabriel, BNSF Group Vice President of Consumer Products.

Drew Johnson, CSX Vice President of Intermodal Sales and Marketing, added, “Together, we’re opening access to key markets and strengthening options for our mutual customers.”

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.