By Zach Koppang   Jan. 26, 2015   Shale Plays Media

A aerial image shows a train entering a depot along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail line outside of Williston, North Dakota March 12, 2013. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton via NewsCred

http://bakken.com/news/id/230998/bnsf-expand-rail-capacity-bakken/

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company has announced its capital investment projects for the upcoming year and is reporting that the company will be investing approximately $1.5 billion into expansion and engineering projects, according to The Bakken Magazine.

The projects, spanning across eight states in the company’s North Region, will add rail capacity and continue the company’s application of Positive Train Control technology. BNSF President and CEO Carl Ice said, “Building on the 2014 capacity increases, we will continue investing in our railroad to make us ever more capable of getting agriculture, energy supplies and a wide range of consumer and industrial products where they want to go.”

For years, the company’s North Region has been growing rapidly. The network has destination points for products that support the production of oil and gas in the Bakken formation. States involved in the expansion projects include North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Illinois, Oregon, Wisconsin and Washington.

Related: BNSF promises to improve Casselton tracks

The expansion includes several projects in the Bakken region of North Dakota and Montana, including the installation of double track lines within the Glasgow subdivision running between Minot, North Dakota, and Snowden, Montana, in the western part of the state. Also being expanded is the siding of the Dickinson subdivision which runs between Mandan, North Dakota, and Glendive, Montana. The terminal at the Dickinson yard will also be expanded to accommodate an increase in single car capacities.

The company will also be updating its Devils Lake subdivision, which extends from Minot to Grand Forks, North Dakota. The update will convert the current system to a more centralized train control, improving capacity for freight operations and improving the running time of passenger train service. Train control for the Hillsboro subdivision in eastern North Dakota will also become more centralized. Railways connecting the Hillsboro and Devils Lake subdivisions will also be upgraded to allow for increased train speeds.

To read the entire report from The Bakken Magazine, click here.