News Release

BNSF Named Carrier of the Year by Wal-Mart for Fifth Consecutive Year

BENTONVILLE, AR and FORT WORTH, Texas, July 14, 2003:

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. recently recognized The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company as the recipient of the Wal-Mart's annual Carrier of the Year award. BNSF has received this award for five consecutive years and to date is the only railroad that has received this honor.

"BNSF has provided an outstanding service for Wal-Mart", said David Reiff, Wal-Mart Vice President for Logistics. "It is our pleasure to recognize their associates for commitment to quality and customer service."

This year, Wal-Mart recognized nine carriers for their outstanding service.

"It is an honor to be recognized again by Wal-Mart as a vital link in their supply chain", said Steve Branscum, group vice president, BNSF Consumer Products. "We look forward to strengthening our relationship further with Wal-Mart by continuing to provide premium intermodal and carload transportation products that deliver speed, reliability and consistent service."

Selection criteria for the award included revenue/growth, ease of doing business, communication, flexibility, customer service and follow-up/correction of errors.

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. BNSF is an industry leader in Web-enabling a variety of customer transactions at www.bnsf.com. The railway is among the world's top transporters of intermodal traffic, moves more grain than any other American railroad, transports the components of many of the products we depend on daily, and hauls enough coal to generate about 10 percent of the electricity produced in the United States.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates more than 2,870 discount stores, Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, and more than 520 SAM'S CLUBS in the United States. In 2001, Wal-Mart associates raised and contributed $196 million to support communities and local non-profit organizations. More information about Wal-Mart can be located on-line www.walmartstores.com and www.walmart.com. The SAM'S CLUB Web site can be accessed at www.samsclub.com. And more information about Wal-Mart's Good Works community involvement is available online at www.walmartfoundation.org.

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