BNSF to bolster infrastructure, add capacity in Illinois

BNSF Railway Co. yesterday revealed plans for 2013 capital improvement projects in a tenth state. The Class I has budgeted $145 million for track maintenance and capacity expansion projects in Illinois.

Capacity projects include the replacement of two bridges in Princeton and Wyanet; construction of a new 7,600-foot siding between Barstow and Hillsdale; lengthening of three departure tracks at the Galesburg Yard to 10,000 feet; and the addition of track and parking at BNSF's Logistics Park Chicago and Corwith intermodal facilities in the Chicago area.

The Class I's track maintenance program in Illinois involves surfacing and/or undercutting about 2,700 miles of track, replacing 90 miles of rail and about 150,000 ties, and upgrading signals for positive train control implementation.

"[Our] capital investments in Illinois will help ensure our network is prepared for growing demand for freight rail," said BNSF Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Matt Rose in a press release. "We are focused on investing to meet our customers' expectations and on expanding capacity where growth is occurring."

The Illinois work is part of BNSF's record-setting $4.3 billion capex program from 2013. Over the past few months, the Class I also has shared breakdowns of planned work in Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas and Washington.