BNSF Railway plans to spend $3.6 billion in 2026 to maintain, expand, and modernize its rail network, with most of the funds going toward track and infrastructure work to keep freight moving reliably.
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The Fort Worth-based railroad said $2.8 billion of the total will be used for maintenance, the largest share of the plan. That includes replacing rail, ballast, and ties, as well as maintaining rolling stock, to reduce service disruptions and protect network capacity.
BNSF expects to complete about 13,000 miles of track surfacing or undercutting, replace 2.5 million rail ties, and install more than 400 miles of rail as part of the maintenance work.
“Our 2026 capital plan focuses on strengthening and modernizing our network so we can continue to meet our customers’ evolving needs,” said Katie Farmer, President and CEO of BNSF. “We prioritize investing with the future in mind, improving efficiency, adding capacity, and ensuring our railroad is always ready to support growth while delivering the dependable, resilient service our customers count on.”
Another $358 million is set aside for expansion and efficiency projects, bringing the total to $2.6 billion that BNSF has invested in expansion over the past five years. These projects aim to increase capacity and improve freight movement across the network.
Key projects include continued development of the Barstow International Gateway in California and early construction work for a future intermodal facility in the Phoenix area. BNSF will also expand yard capacity in Galesburg, Illinois, and Winslow, Arizona, improving switching operations and helping railcars and locomotives move more efficiently.
