OREANDA-NEWS. BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has kicked-off its plan to invest approximately USD 1 billion to improve and expand rail capacity in states along its Northern Corridor, which spans the northern U.S. between the Pacific Northwest and Chicago. Some of the projects that will help expand capacity and improve traffic flow for all freight and passenger trains for current and future growth on those routes are well underway.

"Following our record capital investment in 2013 of USD 4 billion, we are making the most significant capital investment in our history of approximately USD 5 billion this year," said Carl Ice, president and chief executive officer of BNSF Railway. "Our capital investments along the Northern Corridor are critical to expanding our capacity to support the region’s rapidly growing economy, improving our ability to meet our customers’ expectations and ensuring our railroad remains the safest mode of ground transportation for freight."

Highlights of BNSF’s planned capital investments along the Northern Corridor include parts of North Dakota, Washington, Montana, Illinois and Minnesota.

BNSF plans to invest approximately USD 400 million in North Dakota to expand rail capacity, replace and maintain the network infrastructure, and continue the implementation of Positive Train Control technology.

BNSF plans to invest approximately USD 235 million in Washington to expand rail capacity, replace and maintain the network infrastructure, and continue the implementation of PTC technology.

BNSF plans to invest approximately USD 160 million in Montana to expand rail capacity, replace and maintain the network infrastructure, and continue the implementation of PTC technology.

BNSF plans to invest approximately USD 150 million in Illinois to expand rail capacity, replace and maintain the network infrastructure, and continue the implementation of PTC technology. Approximately USD 12 million will be spent on expansion projects in the Chicago area.

BNSF plans to invest approximately USD 120 million in Minnesota to expand rail capacity, replace and maintain the network, and continue the implementation of PTC technology.

The investments BNSF is making along the Northern Corridor will benefit the movement of all commodities in the states along that route. This year, BNSF also plans to invest approximately USD 30 million in South Dakota, approximately USD 50 million in Wisconsin and approximately USD 10 million in Idaho for projects that either expand capacity or help maintain the network infrastructure. South Dakota will benefit from BNSF Northern Corridor investments made in neighboring states. Most (approximately 75 to 80 percent) of the corn and soybeans produced in South Dakota is exported with the majority of those crops being delivered to ports in the Pacific Northwest on BNSF’s network.

The planned capital investments along the Northern Corridor are part of BNSF’s record 2014 capital commitment of USD 5 billion, which BNSF announced in February. As part of this plan, BNSF plans to spend approximately USD 1.6 billion on locomotive, freight car and other equipment acquisitions, which will be put into service all across its network. Since the year 2000, BNSF has invested USD 42 billion to improve and expand its freight rail network.