BNSF breaks down planned capital projects in California

BNSF Railway Co. has released details on proposed 2013 capital improvement projects in a twelfth state. The Class I has budgeted $100 million for track maintenance and capacity expansion projects in California.

Capacity projects include preliminary design work for the Southern California International Gateway intermodal terminal in Los Angeles, which will feature electric, wide-span cranes, ultra-low emission switching locomotives and low-emission yard equipment. In addition, the Class I plans to expand its San Bernardino automotive facility by adding parking and track, and construct a connection track between BNSF and Union Pacific Railroad mainlines in the Richmond area.

The track maintenance program in California involves surfacing and/or undercutting about 2,300 miles of track, replacing more than 100 miles of rail and 300,000 ties, and upgrading signals for positive train control implementation.

"[Our] capital investments in California 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 California work is part of BNSF's record $4.3 billion capex program for 2013. Over the past few months, the Class I also has shared plans for work in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas and Washington. Since 2000, BNSF has invested more than $42 billion to improve and expand its network.