Agricultural Products Network Update for Friday, September 27, 2024
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
BNSF operating teams are focused on maintaining positive service momentum as we head into peak season. Average car velocity has improved almost seven percent from last month. Terminal dwell, while elevated from last week, has improved over eight percent from August. Our local service compliance measure remains over ninety percent and has improved over the last week and month. August was also our best month on record for on-dock rail loadings in Southern California.
TRAFFIC MOVING IN THE KANSAS CITY REGION IMPACTED BY LEVEE PROJECT
Beginning on Monday, September 30, and continuing over the next three weeks, BNSF will have intermittent scheduled work windows on the Emporia Subdivision between our Argentine and Murray Yards near Kansas City. During these work windows, BNSF will reroute as much traffic as possible while maintaining single-track operations. However, customers with traffic moving through the region may see some delays.
The construction is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and greater Kansas City communities’ multi-year Kansas City Levees Project, which aims to improve the reliability and resiliency of the levee and floodwall system and reduce the risk of flooding from the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. In coordination with BNSF and other railroads operating in the area stoplog closure structures, engineering elements used to control flood water levels, are being added beneath track through the area. As the multi-year project continues, BNSF will experience additional impacts in 2025, and we will continue to keep customers informed of any significant service disruptions.
As reported, a traffic incident on Highway 47 in San Pedro, California has impacted some rail operations and access to many port terminals in Los Angeles. Currently, service is expected to resume over the weekend. BNSF will continue to monitor the situation and keep customers informed of any further delays.
SERVICE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
Due to ongoing labor discussions, CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) have announced embargoes affecting some east-coast ports. BNSF will continue to work with CSX, NS and customers on shipments destined to impacted ports.
Hurricane Helene made landfall yesterday as a category four hurricane in Florida before moving over Georgia and the Carolinas as a tropical storm today. Rain and storms associated with Helene will bring high winds and flash flooding to the eastern end of our network over the Tennessee River Valley and parts of the Ohio River Valley. BNSF operating teams are prepared to respond to any weather-related challenges. We will continue to keep in close contact with eastern carriers and keep customers informed of any significant service disruptions. Our thoughts are with those affected by the storm.
No major weather events or disruptions are expected elsewhere on our network heading into next week.
We thank you for your business and appreciate the opportunity to serve as your transportation service provider. We welcome your feedback and questions.