BNSF details 2016 capex plans for Nebraska, New Mexico

BNSF Railway Co. will spend $110 million in Nebraska and $100 million in New Mexico on maintenance projects as part of its 2016 capital expenditures program, the Class I announced over the past week.

In both states, the largest component of the projects will involve replacing and upgrading rail, ties and ballast, according to BNSF press releases.

In Nebraska, BNSF's maintenance program calls for 1,760 miles of track surfacing or undercutting work, the replacement of about 40 miles of rail and more than 160,000 ties, as well as signal upgrades necessary for federally mandated positive train control (PTC) implementation.

This year's Nebraska projects also include continuing construction of nearly 6 miles of double track on the Ravenna Subdivision between Pleasant Dale and Milford. BNSF has invested more than $575 million in its Nebraska network over the past three years.

In New Mexico, maintenance projects this year will include about 900 miles of track surfacing or undercutting work, the replacement of about 15 miles of rail and more than 195,000 ties, as well as signal upgrades required for PTC.

Other projects in New Mexico will include the continued installation of a new bridge and second track to cross the Pecos River and double track near Fort Sumner. When those bridge and double projects are completed, all but 4 miles of BNSF's 2,000-mile Southern Transcon route between the West Coast and major intermodal markets in Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City will be double tracked this year, BNSF officials said.

The Nebraska and New Mexico work is part of BNSF's $4.3 billion capital expenditures program for 2016.