BNSF Customer Notification:
Service Update for Friday, February 12, 2016
Operational Performance
The operation continued to perform well this week with good fluidity generated across the network. High winds in parts of the North Region last weekend caused some train delays but no significant service disruptions. Overall velocity for cars, trains and locomotives across the system remains strong and total trains held is better by more than 50 percent from the average level recorded the previous February. Total unit volume moved by BNSF, while slightly lower from the previous week, continues to exceed all other Class I railroads by a substantial margin.
2016 BNSF Capital Plan: Network Maintenance
As we have reported, the largest component of our 2016 capital plan, approximately 65 percent, is dedicated to maintaining our 32,500 route mile network. This year's planned work includes replacing and upgrading nearly 800 miles of rail, more than 3.5 million rail ties and undercutting more than 900 miles of track. While the start of our peak maintenance season is still a couple months away, our crews have been active on several subdivisions this week, largely in our South Region. Customers can access more information about weekly planned maintenance through this online map, which includes specific details on the types of work being done as well as the expected completion date in each location.
Service Expectations for the Week Ahead
The divergence in weather conditions around the network, particularly from one end of our Southern Transcon to the other, will be quite extreme during the next several days. As areas of southern California and the desert Southwest experience record high temperatures in the mid 80's, frigid weather is moving into the Northern Plains and upper Midwest, with single-digit to below-zero temperatures expected in many locations, including Chicago, this weekend. Although rain is likely in the Pacific Northwest, no major winter snowstorms are expected to impact the network during the upcoming week.
Below is a look at the key operational performance categories for the week ending February 9:
Total trains held for the week was up by three percent to an average of 38.9 versus 37.7 trains held the prior week.
- Versus the February 2015 average: better by 55.3%
Total trains on the system was down by nearly two percent from the prior week with an average of 1,245 trains on the system versus 1,265 during the prior week.
Locomotive velocity, measured in miles per day (MPD), was 294.8, which is essentially unchanged from the 295.6 MPD recorded during the prior week.
- Versus the February 2015 average: better by 11.7%
Car velocity slowed by 1.5 percent at 223.4 MPD versus 226.9 MPD recorded the prior week.
- Versus the February 2015 average: better by 9.0%
Train velocity slowed by nearly two percent from the prior week at 21.4 miles per hour.
- Versus the February 2015 average: better by 24.4%
Total volume was lower by more than three percent from the prior week with 183,894 units moved in Week 5 (ending February 6).
Terminal dwell increased by nearly five percent to 26.2 hours versus 25.0 hours recorded the prior week.
- Versus the February 2015 average: up by 3.1%
As always, we thank you for your business and appreciate the opportunity to serve as your transportation service provider. We welcome your feedback and questions.
