(The Associated Press circulated the following article by James MacPherson on July 14.)
BISMARCK, N.D. — BNSF Railway Co. said it’s adding about 170 employees across North Dakota this year and next, in part to help with millions of dollars in track upgrades in the state.
Grain shippers hope the upgrades will improve service.
BNSF Railway, a subsidiary of Fort Worth-based Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., is planning more than $28 million in track upgrades in 2005, spokesman Gus Melonas said. Most of the additional jobs have been filled.
The track upgrade is part of a four-year, $123 million capital track improvement project in North Dakota through 2006, Melonas said. The railroad spent more than $39 million last year repairing and replacing track, he said.
“We’ve been focusing on increasing cycle times for our cars, and track upgrades are key to ensuring our most efficient movements,” Melonas said. “The upgrades enhance the overall flow, thus benefiting all customers, including grain customers. You will be seeing more efficient, quicker movements.”
Steve Strege, executive vice president of the Fargo-based North Dakota Grain Dealers Association, hopes so. He said the railroad has promised thousands of additional grain cars to serve North Dakota.
“The fact is, they said they would be adding more grain cars and they are not,” Strege said.
Grain shippers have complained the railroad is late with railroad car deliveries, forcing elevator managers to put crops on the ground and preventing grain from moving to market.
North Dakota ships about 225 million bushels of wheat annually to domestic and export markets, Strege said. Most of the grain shipped out of state is loaded on BNSF trains, he said.
“They’re not up to speed with what the market is needing,” Strege said. “I certainly want them to maintain track, just like a farmer has to maintain his machinery. I don’t think it’s news that they’re maintaining their track.”
Melonas said the railroad is increasing its fleet of grain cars nationwide by 3,000 this year. The new high-capacity cars will bring the number of grain cars to 28,682 by the end of the year, he said.
The track upgrades in North Dakota are part of a $2.1 billion capital investment plan, he said.
The railroad has about 2,000 miles of track in North Dakota. About 100 trains move through the state daily, Melonas said.
Federal Railroad Administration spokesman Warren Flatau said BNSF has reported $7.7 million in track and equipment damage from January 2004 to April 2005.
The agency requires railroads to report only damage to track and equipment, not to private property.
Melonas said more than 74,000 ties and 35 miles of rail will be replaced this year. A rail bridge in Tioga also is slated for replacement.
Ties last up to 10 years, while track must be replaced about every 25 years, he said.