10/09/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/09/2026 15:27
Date
Oct 9, 2026
Operational Performance
The network continues to recover from significant weather-related service interruptions across portions of the Southwest, Southern Plains and Midwest last week. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding caused multiple washouts and flood damage on the El Paso Subdivision in southern New Mexico, temporarily taking the route out of service and disrupting traffic flows to/from Mexico. Additional flooding impacts included a washout on the Gallup Subdivision near the Arizona-New Mexico border and flooding in eastern Nebraska that reduced operating capacity through Lincoln Yard, an important gateway for coal traffic. In each location, BNSF teams moved quickly to assess damage and return affected infrastructure to service. Operations through Lincoln Yard resumed within approximately 24 to 36 hours of the most significant flooding impacts, and the Gallup Subdivision returned to normal operations within a similar timeframe. Despite more extensive flood-related damage, service on the El Paso Subdivision was restored by the end of the week.
The effects of these disruptions are reflected in the reporting-period metrics, with car velocity declining compared with both the prior week and prior month and terminal dwell increasing. Despite those impacts, local service remained above 91%, and volume was essentially unchanged from the prior week at more than 200,000 units. The network has continued to make steady progress in recent days as recovery efforts advance.
Update: Pacific Northwest International Shipments Transitioning to Hudson, CO
Beginning October 28, 2026, BNSF will route international intermodal shipments moving between the Pacific Northwest and the Denver market through our Hudson Intermodal Facility in Hudson, Colorado, providing access to additional intermodal capacity in the Denver region. The last day to ingate at Denver will be Thursday, October 29, and gates will be closed effective Friday, October 30.
As part of this transition, international containers originating or terminating in Seattle, Tacoma and other Pacific Northwest locations will be available for pickup and delivery at Hudson, CO. Customers should also ensure shipping instructions for these shipments identify Hudson, CO as the applicable location.
If you have any questions or need assistance preparing for this change, please contact your BNSF representative.
LPC Intermodal Facility Truck Spot Check-In Process
BNSF remains committed to collaborating with the trucking community to enhance the driver experience at our intermodal facilities. To further this effort, we are implementing a new Truck Spot Check-In process at our Logistics Park Chicago (LPC) Intermodal Facility on Monday, October 19.
The Truck Spot Check-In feature allows drivers to confirm their arrival at their assigned truck or transfer spot after submitting a lift request for the wide-span crane area. Checking in through the RailPASS app triggers the work order for the crane operator once the driver is in position, helping ensure lifts are handled in the proper sequence and reducing unnecessary delays. This improvement streamlines communication between drivers and crane operators and enhances overall yard efficiency.
Our Driver Experience Coordinators will be on-site at LPC Monday, October 19 - Wednesday, October 21, to answer questions and provide guidance on downloading and using RailPASS. Whether a new or returning user, for the best experience, download the latest version of RailPASS from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Service Expectations for the Week Ahead
Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall along the northern Gulf Coast late tonight and move inland through portions of the Southeast this weekend. While the storm is primarily east of most BNSF operations, customers with shipments moving through New Orleans or interchanging with eastern carriers may experience delays. BNSF operating teams will continue to coordinate with interchange partners as the storm progresses.
In the West, we are also monitoring weather associated with Tropical Storm Rachel, which may bring periods of heavy rain and gusty winds to portions of Southern California and the Southwest this weekend.
As always, we thank you for your business and appreciate the opportunity to serve as your transportation service provider. We welcome your feedback and questions.