News Release

Nation's Largest Retailer Names BNSF Carrier of the Year for Third Consecutive Year

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 30, 2001 :

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) today announced it was named Carrier of the Year by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer.

For the third consecutive year, BNSF was recognized by Wal-Mart as Carrier of the Year at Wal-Mart’s annual Carrier Conference. To date, BNSF is the only rail carrier that has received this honor.

Selection criteria for the award included systems technology, on-time pick up and delivery, customer service, pricing, equipment capacity and ease of doing business.

“It is an honor to be recognized again by Wal-Mart,” said Steve Branscum, group vice president, BNSF Consumer Products. “We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Wal-Mart by continuing to meet their transportation and business needs and serving as a valuable link in their supply chain.”

Headquartered in Fort Worth, BNSF (NYSE: BNI) 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 moved more than 3.4million containers and trailers in 2000 through its extensive network of more than 35 intermodal hubs, making it the largest intermodal rail carrier in the world.

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