BNSF budgets $135 million for Montana improvements

BNSF Railway Co. announced yesterday it will spend $135 million of its capital expenditure program in Montana this year.

The Class I's maintenance program in Montana will include 82 miles of track surfacing or undercutting, along with replacing nearly 60 miles of rail and 200,000 ties, according to a BNSF press release.

Multiple projects have been scheduled on BNSF's Kootenai River subdivision, which runs between Sandpoint, Idaho, and Whitefish. Crews will signalize various sidings on the subdivision to enable centralized traffic control (CTC). Improvements to 7-mile rail Flathead Tunnel will be made in northwest Montana.

Over the past five years, BNSF has invested $850 million to expand and maintain its network in Montana.

"Maintaining a safe and reliable network is one way BNSF works to keep Montana's economy moving," said Jon Gabriel, general manager of operations, Montana division. "Freight rail connects Montana's farmers and lumber producers with the major U.S. markets, and with exports facilities ready to move their products overseas. Rail is also a vital component of getting the people of Montana the consumer products they need."

BNSF expects to spend $3.3 billion on capital expenditures throughout its network this year.