BNSF highlights 2015 capex work in Colorado, Montana and Oklahoma

Add three more states to BNSF Railway Co.'s growing list of capital spending breakdowns for 2015. The Class I has released highlights of work planned in Colorado, Montana and Oklahoma.

The railroad plans to spend $141 million on capacity expansion and track maintenance projects in Colorado. Major work involves extending sidings in Bijou, Crest, Hudson, Messex, Roggen and Tonville, and beginning to extend sidings in Barr, Keensburg, New Hillrose and Wiggins that will be completed in 2016; converting a siding in Messex to Centralized Traffic Control; constructing a new siding west of Commerce City; and extending tracks at terminals in Denver and Sterling to improve throughput capacity.

BNSF’s maintenance program in the state calls for surfacing or undercutting 580 miles of track, replacing nearly 16 miles of rail and 123,500 ties, and upgrading signals for positive train control (PTC) implementation.

In Montana, the railroad has budgeted $124 million for capex work. Major projects include grading work for four miles of double track in the Glasgow Subdivision that will be completed in 2016, and improving tracks from Crane to Snowden Junction. When the Glasgow subdivision project is completed, BNSF will have 114 miles of double track from North Dakota to Montana.

Track maintenance work in Montana involves 1,227 miles of track surfacing or undercutting, the replacement of 52 miles of rail and 345,000 ties, and signal upgrades for PTC.

In Oklahoma, BNSF expects to spend $118 million on capital projects. Major work includes improvements to Cherokee Yard and constructing two double-track segments in the Panhandle Subdivision totaling 18 miles between Noel and Avard, and Loder and milepost 323. The railroad also plans to surface and/or undercut 1,118 miles of track, and replace 38 miles of rail and 40,000 ties.

BNSF previously released highlights of capital projects planned in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, 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.