BNSF News

Thanksgiving Holiday Operating Plan

2007-11-19

This year the Thanksgiving holiday will be observed Thursday, Nov. 22, and Friday, Nov. 23. The following is a summary of the planned operational changes.  For all business groups, BNSF's Thanksgiving weekend operating plan will focus on meeting customers’ expectations, while allowing employees to spend time with their families. 

Mechanical and Engineering

Mechanical will make efforts to reduce to minimum necessary staffing at locomotive servicing facilities, car inspection points and shops as workloads permit on Thanksgiving Day.

Maintenance of Way staffing will be adjusted to reflect the holiday operating plan, with staffing levels determined by local division leadership.

Carload Service

During the holiday weekend, carload train service will operate according to normal schedules, subject to crew availability.

Merchandise unit train service will be aligned to reduced customer operations starting on Thanksgiving Day and continue through the holiday weekend.

BNSF may annul or consolidate some carload train symbols, including through, local and industry switch jobs immediately following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Coal Service

Unit coal trains – both loaded and empty – will operate normally over the Thanksgiving holiday. However, BNSF will attempt to keep trains at the crew's home terminal between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, if capacity exists at the terminal.

Since many non-unit train coal customers plan reduced operations over the holidays, BNSF may annul or consolidate trains in line with anticipated reduced traffic volumes. Additionally, consistent with the needs of customers, BNSF will reduce local, road-switch and switch engine assignments.

Agricultural Service

Thanksgiving Day is a shuttle holiday.

Empty Shuttles

Customers with empty trains arriving at the loading facility after 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 21, may elect to move their official spot time to 6 a.m., Friday, Nov. 23. During this time frame, trains may be loaded if desired.

Loaded Shuttles

Customers with loaded trains arriving at an unload facility after 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 21, may elect to move their official spot time to 6 a.m., Friday, Nov. 23. During this time frame, trains may be unloaded if desired.

Throughout the holiday weekend, BNSF will focus on keeping the grain network performing to meet increased demand. If crew and locomotive capacity is available, the train will run.

Intermodal Service

BNSF will continue to operate intermodal trains over the Thanksgiving holiday. However, due to lighter volumes of traffic and possible train consolidations, shipments originating on Thursday, Nov. 22, through noon on Tuesday, Nov. 27, may experience extended destination availabilities of between 24 and 48 hours. 

Automotive Service

BNSF will continue to operate automotive trains over the Thanksgiving weekend. Traffic that either originates or arrives at destination Thursday, Nov. 22, through Monday, Nov. 26, may experience extended destination availabilities of up to 48 hours.

BNSF Headquarters

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