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Yesterday, BNSF Railway Co. and Yellowstone Valley Railroad (YSVR) announced plans to amend their lease agreement pertaining to a route between Snowden and Glendive, Mont.

Beginning in fall, BNSF will provide service for unit trains and YSVR — a 134-mile short line owned by Watco Cos. L.L.C. — will handle all other traffic along the line between Snowden and Crane. BNSF also will serve all customers between Crane and Glendive, handle bridge traffic between Snowden and Glendive, and assume dispatching and maintenance responsibilities for the entire line.
 
“The tremendous growth of oil production in the Williston Basin and the Bakken Shale formation over the last several years has resulted in significant increases in traffic volumes in and out of this area,” said BNSF Vice President of Network Strategy Dean Wise in a prepared statement. “This amended agreement will allow BNSF and YSVR to respond to the changing demands of our customers, improve direct service and unit train handling efficiencies, and continue to invest to serve this rapidly growing part of the Montana and North Dakota economies.”