The BNSF Public Sham
Author: Quig
Date: 03-10-2015 - 18:02
While BNSF publicist have been playing up the record capital spending budget, behind the scenes BNSF has cut large numbers of MOW jobs. This includes 268 in the Twin Cities Division alone. Much of the division's heavy equipment is leased. Most of this was returned to the lease owners last week. All this in lieu of the derailment at Galena (different division), in which the track was shut down and over 20+ trains sat idle for three days. Over the past couple of days there were at least 2 minor derailments in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in the last 4 days, of which there was a lack of equipment and employees had to be called during off time. If Mr. Buffet is reading this, he needs to begin investigating the track maintenance practices of his railroad. While they may be adding capacity through new track, the established infrastructure is deteriorating. Until BNSF managers are graded on productivity instead of cost-savings, there will be more derailments and more outcry against oil trains and hazardous material shipments.