Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF additional main track to add in 2017

In the press publications, it is reported that BNSF will add 16 miles of second and third main track in 2017. Also in the press releases, it says that BNSF will have the heaviest capital investments (including maintenance) in Texas, California, and Washington. I have also read that BNSF will NOT be closing the single track gap on the Transcon this year near Alva Oklahoma, favoring investments in the Northwest. Where will this 16 miles of second and third main track be added? Can anyone shed some light on this?

A lot of that is likely along the Seattle Sub;

3rd Main Longview Jct - Kelso, finished this month. not sure of the mileage.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/rail/kelsolongviewjct/

There was also a 4 mile long "siding" installed at Kalama and they may have possibly included the Vancouver Yard Bypass project.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

stevef Wrote:
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> I have also read that
> BNSF will NOT be closing the single track gap on
> the Transcon this year near Alva Oklahoma,
> favoring investments in the Northwest.

Good move. The Northwest is very congested the last year or so, it needs more capacity. The Southern Transcon is still down from it's peak, and the improvements made there are more than adequate. BSB

BigSkyBlue Wrote:
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> Good move. The Northwest is very congested the
> last year or so, it needs more capacity. The
> Southern Transcon is still down from it's peak,
> and the improvements made there are more than
> adequate. BSB


I agree. Not only is the Southern Trancon down from its peak, Alva Oklahoma is in the segment of the Transcon which has the lowest traffic density.

The northwest is in desperate need of capital from BNSF, especially in the Sandpoint, ID region.

funnelfan Wrote:
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> A lot of that is likely along the Seattle Sub;
>
> 3rd Main Longview Jct - Kelso, finished this
> month. not sure of the mileage.
> http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/rail/kelsolongvie
> wjct/
>
> There was also a 4 mile long "siding" installed at
> Kalama and they may have possibly included the
> Vancouver Yard Bypass project.

One of the BNSF engineers posted on Facebook that Main 3 between Toteff and Longview Jct. was recently put into service.

Isn't most of these Seattle Sub projects paid, or mostly paid, by Washington State tax payers?

spwolfmtn Wrote:
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> Isn't most of these Seattle Sub projects paid, or
> mostly paid, by Washington State tax payers?

800 megabucks of federal grant supplemented with Washington state funds.

TAW

Main 3 in Longview between CP Kelso and CP Longview Jct South went into service earlier this year.
Main 3 in Kalama between CP Toteff and CP Peavey went into service officially this week.

Been hearing a rumor that Main 3 will continue between Peavey and Longview Jct South (about 3ish miles) will start up this year and converting the PC running track next to Main 1 between CP South Seattle and Bailey will become Main 4.

PTC starts up in June on the Seattle Sub. Shall be good times.