BNSF budgets $625 million in capex for Texas, Kansas and Missouri

BNSF Railway Co. this week continued to roll out its 2018 capital expenditure plans for individual states where the Class I's network operates. BNSF's latest announcements: Texas, Kansas and Missouri.

In Texas, BNSF expects to spend $375 million this year on maintenance of rail, ties and ballast, as well as expansion projects designed to enhance the network's capacity and fluidity, BNSF officials said in a press release.

"Texas has more miles of rail than any other state, with roughly 440 million tons of agricultural, energy, industrial and consumer products moving via the state's rail lines each year. By performing regular maintenance and capacity projects in the state, BNSF is fulfilling its commitment to operate as safely, reliably and efficiently as possible," said Janssen Thompson, general manager of operations, Red River Division.

Over the past five years, BNSF has spent about $1.8 billion to expand and maintain its network in Texas. This year's maintenance program in the state includes 1,400 miles of track surfacing or undercutting, as well as the replacement of nearly 40 miles of rail and more than 450,000 ties.

The Class I also will invest in capacity expansion projects. In the Hereford subdivision, crews will complete a project to quadruple main line track of more than 4 miles through Amarillo. On the Wichita Falls subdivision, which runs between Wichita Falls and Fort Worth, crews will complete installation of centralized traffic control on the entire subdivision, install one new siding and extend another to address increased train flows.

On the Conroe subdivision in the Houston area, construction is scheduled to begin on a new connection and siding in Dobbin to help facilitate train flows between Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston.

BNSF also anticipates completing expansion projects started in 2016 at the Alliance Intermodal Facility. Additionally, BNSF will begin construction to replace its existing bridge over the Trinity River near downtown Fort Worth.

Meanwhile, in Kansas, the Class I will spend $130 million on maintenance projects. The largest component of this year's program in the state will be replacing and upgrading rail, ties and ballast.

And in Missouri, BNSF will invest $120 million this year on its maintenance program for track, rail and ties. In addition, the railroad will complete its changeout of the Grand River bridge near Bosworth.