BNSF opens logistics center in Oklahoma

BNSF Railway Co. yesterday unveiled its newest logistics center during an event held in Moore, Oklahoma, for customers, local officials and residents.

Located within the city limits of Oklahoma City and Moore, Logistics Center Oklahoma City is designed to accommodate manifest and unit trains, and store freight. The facility can handle up to four manifest and two unit trains at a time.

The 195-acre logistics hub is located east of BNSF's Flynn Yard. A double-ended industrial lead track will connect to the Class I's mainline to serve customers at the center. The Class I broke ground on the center earlier this summer, and mass grading, utility relocations and initial drainage work is expected to be completed in October. Unit trains will be able to arrive from either direction without impeding access to manifest train sites.

Logistics Center Oklahoma City provides access to the state's largest population center and one of the nation's most prominent energy centers, BNSF officials said in a press release.

"Logistics centers are just one way BNSF offers more choices, flexibility and efficiency for new, potential and existing customers," said Colby Tanner, the Class I's assistant vice president of economic development.

BNSF's logistics centers offer direct rail service in multi-customer, multi-commodity business parks. The railroad aims to develop such centers — which can handle manifest trains, unit trains or both — in strategic under-served and end-user markets. The Class I also operates a number of other logistics centers, as well as logistics parks in the Chicago, Kansas City and Dallas/Fort Worth areas.