OREANDA-NEWS. BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) plans to invest an estimated USD 95 million on maintenance and rail capacity improvement and expansion projects in Minnesota this year.

BNSF's 2013 capacity projects in Minnesota include terminal improvements at Northtown Yard in Minneapolis to expand rail car classification and inspection capacity by reconfiguring tracks and switches, expanding parking capacity at BNSF's automotive facility in St. Paul to support growth in new automobile traffic, as well as signal upgrades for federally mandated positive train control (PTC).

BNSF will continue its robust maintenance program in Minnesota, which will include more than 1,800 miles of track surfacing and undercutting work, and the replacement of 55 miles of rail and about 290,000 railroad ties.

The planned capital investments in Minnesota are part of BNSF's record 2013 capital commitment of USD 4.3 billion. The largest component of the capital plan is spending USD 2.3 billion on BNSF's core network and related assets. BNSF also plans to spend approximately USD 1 billion on locomotive, freight car and other equipment acquisitions, many of which will serve Minnesota. The program includes about USD 200 million for positive train control and USD 800 million for terminal, line and intermodal expansion and efficiency projects.

Unlike other modes of transportation, U.S. freight railroads use their own private dollars, not tax dollars, to build and maintain their freight rail networks. Since the year 2000, BNSF has invested more than USD 42 billion to improve and expand its freight rail network.