BNSF News

Abo Canyon Double Track Open for Business

2011-06-06

At 5:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, Friday, June 3, BNSF employees had reason to celebrate as the first train traversed the completed double track through the Abo Canyon on the Southwest Division.

This project addressed one of the last remaining segments of single-line track on BNSF's busy Southern Transcon. The 2.5-year-long project was completed ahead of schedule, and BNSF employees did not have a single reportable or non-reportable injury.

"The new track, about 25 miles east of Belen, N.M., will help improve velocity through the canyon, eliminate bottlenecks and accommodate rail traffic growth on this section of BNSF's transcontinental line, which connects Los Angeles to Chicago," said Sam Sexhus, vice president, Engineering.

Since beginning the work in October 2008, crews on the project have:

• Laid 5 miles of new track
• Blasted approximately 3.6 million tons of rock
• Built nine bridges totaling about 3,000 feet in length

Crews will continue daily windows over the new segments in coming weeks to complete de-stressing and welding work.

"About 80 trains were travelling this portion of the track every day and now we can handle about 130 trains per day," Sexhus said. "That's a significant return on BNSF's investment, and will provide more efficient transportation services for our customers."

BNSF Headquarters

BNSF Railway Company
2650 Lou Menk Dr. 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 961057
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057
Phone: (817) 352-1000

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com