BNSF breaks down capex projects pegged for California, Kansas

Yesterday, BNSF Railway Co. capped off its state-by-state breakdown of planned capital spending projects by releasing highlights of 2015 work pegged for California and Kansas.

The Class I plans to spend $141 million on capacity expansion and track maintenance projects in California. Major work includes the construction of three miles of double track and a siding as part of the Tehachapi Rail Improvement Project in the Mojave Subdivision, and an expansion of parking capacity at the Stockton Intermodal Facility. Planned trackwork in the state calls for surfacing and/or undercutting 880 miles of track, and replacing nearly 54 miles of rail and 118,000 ties.

In Kansas, BNSF has budgeted $103 million for 2015 capex work. Major projects include the construction of double track from Bonita to Hillsdale totaling 11 miles, and expanding yard track to improve switching efficiency at the Logistics Park Kansas City Intermodal Facility in Edgerton. Trackwork in Kansas will focus on surfacing and/or undercutting 284 miles of track, replacing 33 miles of rail and 94,500 ties, and upgrading signals for positive train control implementation.

BNSF previously released highlights of capital projects planned in Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. All the work is part of the railroad's record-setting $6 billion capex budget for 2015. For more insight and information on BNSF's capital spending program, read this cover story from Progressive Railroading's February issue.