BNSF is making operational changes and advising customers to expect delays and increased transit times as the railroad prepares for a major winter storm that will affect a large portion of its network.
CSX and Norfolk Southern also issued customer advisories earlier this week.
In a customer notification today (Jan. 22), BNSF says it will adjust train lengths and use distributed power where appropriate to maintain train air pressure; has activated its winter action plans and positioned snow-removal equipment across its network; and will have rapid-response teams standing by around the clock. Those teams include engineering teams to address snow and track conditions and mechanical teams for locomotive and railcar issues. The company has passenger railcars to available to transport crews and support operations in areas where highway conditions could be an issue.
CSX advised customers on Tuesday that it was monitoring the weather, saying that it could impact operations in the railroad’s Southwest Region, including Evansville, Ind., Nashville and Chattanooga, Tenn., and potentially as far south as Atlanta. The railroad said it was mobilizing resources to respond quickly and minimized disruptions. Norfolk Southern’s advisory, issued Wednesday, said no terminal or gate closures were planned for intermodal facilities, but that it would continue to monitor and adapt to conditions through the weekend.
The NS advisory says widespread snowfall of 3 to 6 inches is forecast from the southern plains through the Tennessee Valley, southern Appalachians, Virginia, and Mid-Atlantic regions, with localized snowfall of 6 to 12 inches. BNSF reports snow accumulations of 8 to 15 inches are possible from central Oklahoma to western Kentucky, along with sleet and freezing rain. Northern areas will see wind chills well below zero.
Other railroads may have issued similar advisories, but have customer information in password-protected portions of their websites.
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