News Release

BNSF Expands Intermodal Service to Mexico With New Ramp-to-Door Alternative and Streamlined Pricing

FORT WORTH, Texas, January 9, 2001:

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) today announced it has expanded its existing intermodal service to Mexico by offering ramp-to-door service between major U.S. markets and the cities of Monterrey, Mexico City and Queretaro.

The new ramp-to-door service offers competitive pricing designed to streamline the process of shipping freight into and out of Mexico. "We received feedback that the process of shipping into and out of Mexico was complicated by a number of fees and charges which needed to be streamlined," said Richard Miller, director, BNSF Mexico Business. "Our new pricing includes several of the fees and charges most shippers didn't want to deal with in one simple payment. By doing this, we've made the process of shipping freight into and out of Mexico easier."

Pricing for this new service offering includes payment of:

• The "in-bond transit authority" fee for the rail movement between the border and Mexico destinations;
• Dray transportation fees between the Mexico intermodal facilities and the actual origin/destination (ramp-to-door or door-to-ramp service); and
• North American Container System (NACS) equipment charges while in Mexico.

Pricing of the new service does not include rates normally paid by the Mexican receiver, including insurance outside the intermodal facilities and the Mexican Customs Broker fees.

"Our pricing system for this service is an example of BNSF's desire to make trans-border intermodal shipping an easy, attractive transportation alternative," said Miller. "Further, the expanded ramp-to-door service is an example of our commitment to Mexico business development."

In April of 2000, BNSF partnered with Texas-Mexican Railway Company (Tex-Mex) and Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM) to offer ramp-to-ramp intermodal service between the United States and Mexico.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, BNSF operates one of the largest rail networks in North America, with 33,500 route miles of track covering 28 states and two Canadian provinces.

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