News Release

Dow, BNSF Celebrate Completion of Rail Line Between Seadrift and Kamey, Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas, July 9, 2003:

Union Carbide Corporation, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, and The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) today celebrated the completion of a 7.85-mile rail line in Calhoun County, Texas, and the first shipment of products from the Seadrift (TX) facility.

The new line connects Dow's industrial complex at Seadrift with BNSF's rail network near Kamey, Texas. Construction began in February 2002 and was completed approximately 15 months later in May 2003.

"We are pleased with the completion of this new rail line which is a good example of providing competitive commercial solutions to the marketplace," said Dave Garin, group vice president, Industrial Products, BNSF. "The construction was completed on-time with no workplace injuries and provides Dow with competitive rail service."

"We are excited to begin a new era of rail service to the Seadrift facility," said Bill Huff, Global Rail Operations Manager for Dow. "A competitively served facility not only provides commercial alternatives, but also opportunities to improve rail service and safety.

Competitive rail service will provide a strong foundation for future growth at the Seadrift site."

Dow's Seadrift Operations moves approximately 60 percent of its materials by rail. The majority of its rail shipments are outbound plastic pellets frequently used in the manufacture of wire and cable products, food and beverage containers, synthetic fabrics and automotive parts. Other rail shipments include outbound industrial chemicals used in the production of health and personal care products, paints, home cleaning agents and automotive fluids.

Dow is a leading science and technology company that provides innovative plastic, chemical, and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $28 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 160 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Dow and its 50,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities.

A subsidiary of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (NYSE:BNI), BNSF operates one of the largest railroad networks in North America, with 32,500 route miles covering 28 states and two Canadian provinces. The railway is among the world's safest and efficient transporters of bulk commodities, including plastics and industrial chemicals that are components of many of the products the United States and global markets depend on daily. BNSF is an industry leader in Web-enabling a variety of customer transactions at www.bnsf.com.

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