Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation reported record first-quarter earnings of $1.09 per diluted share, a 31-percent increase over first-quarter 2005 earnings of $0.83 per diluted share.

First-quarter 2006 freight revenues increased $470 million, or 16 percent, to a first-quarter record of $3.37 billion compared with $2.90 billion in the prior year. The 16-percent increase in revenue is attributable to growth in unit volumes, rates and fuel surcharges. Revenue for the first quarter of 2006 included fuel surcharges of approximately $350 million compared with approximately $170 million in the first quarter of 2005.

"Demand for rail service continued to be very strong with growth spread across each of our four business groups," said Matthew K. Rose, BNSF Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Overall unit volume increased 5 percent in the first quarter compared with the same 2005 period. This increase was led by intermodal unit growth of 6 percent and coal carload and tonnage growth of 5 percent. As a result, we achieved record first-quarter operating income of $792 million, while further improving our operating ratio."

Compared with the first quarter of 2005, BNSF experienced double-digit revenue increases in each of the Company