BNSF, Metra reach new 10-year passenger service agreement. Published: April 10, 2026 In a significant development for commuter rail in the Chicago region, BNSF Railway and Metra have reached a new long-term agreement that will extend passenger service on the busy BNSF Line for another decade. Announced on April 9, the deal renews one of the nation's most enduring freight-passenger partnerships, ensuring continued operations along Metra's busiest commuter corridor between Chicago and Aurora, Illinois. Metra MP36PH-3S #406 pauses with a westbound train at Tinley Park on January 18, 2009. Doug Kroll photo. Agreement details. Under the terms of the new contract, the agreement is structured as an initial five-year term beginning April 1, 2026, followed by an automatic five-year extension, creating a total potential duration of 10 years unless either party opts out. The arrangement maintains the long-standing "purchase-of-service" model in which BNSF owns and dispatches the line while operating trains with its own crews, and Metra provides equipment and oversees passenger service. Service will continue to run seven days a week, preserving a vital transportation link for tens of thousands of daily commuters traveling between downtown Chicago and its western suburbs. BNSF ES44AC #5923 at Kansas City on September 23, 2006. Warren Calloway photo. A historic partnership continues. The agreement underscores a relationship dating back more than four decades. Since Metra's creation in 1983, BNSF (and its predecessor Burlington Northern) has operated commuter trains on what is now known as the BNSF Line. Metra CEO Jim Derwinski emphasized the importance of this collaboration, noting that both organizations have worked together for decades to deliver "safe, reliable, fast, and affordable service" to communities along the route. BNSF officials likewise highlighted the broader significance of passenger rail within their network, pointing to its role in connecting people to jobs and opportunities while complementing freight operations. Importance of the BNSF Line. The BNSF Line is widely regarded as the backbone of Metra's system: * It is Metra's busiest route, carrying the highest ridership in the network. * The corridor links Chicago Union Station with major suburban communities such as Naperville and Aurora. * It remains one of the few U.S. commuter lines still operated by a Class I freight railroad under contract. This unique arrangement reflects a broader trend in American railroading, where commuter agencies often rely on freight railroads for access, dispatching, and operations on shared infrastructure. Broader implications. The new agreement provides long-term stability for both organizations and the riders who depend on the line daily. By locking in terms for up to a decade, the contract: * Ensures continuity of operations on a critical regional transportation artery * Reinforces cooperation between freight and passenger rail sectors * Provides a framework for future service improvements and reliability enhancements At a time when many commuter agencies face funding and operational challenges, the BNSF-Metra agreement stands as an example of sustained collaboration in a complex, shared-use rail environment. With the agreement now in place, both BNSF and Metra are positioned to continue refining service on one of the nation's most heavily used commuter rail corridors. As Chicago's metropolitan region continues to grow, the BNSF Line will remain a cornerstone of daily mobility - supported by a partnership that has now been secured for another decade.

Class I briefs: CSX, BNSF, UP. CSX opens the TRANSFLO Petersburg Terminal in Virginia. Also, BNSF earns a Building Together Award from Economic Development Corporation of Utah; and Union Pacific's (UP) Engineering team creates a digital twin of Big Boy No. 4014. CSX on March 30 launched the TRANSFLO Petersburg Terminal. Located in Petersburg, Va., the facility "reflects our commitment to delivering the benefits of rail transport with efficient transloading and maximized throughput," according to the Class I railroad, which also operates a terminal in Richmond, Va., in addition to terminals in Tennessee, South Carolina, Quebec, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, Florida, Delaware, Connecticut, and Alabama. The new Petersburg terminal at 3500 Halifax Road features: * 40 car spots. * LPG capability. * Conveyor capacity. * Access to major highways I-95, I-85, and US-460. Further reading: The Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) recently recognized BNSF with its Building Together Award, which is described as a "traveling trophy" celebrating organizations "making a meaningful impact on Utah's economic prosperity." "BNSF plays a critical role in keeping Utah and the broader region connected to national and global markets," UDCUtah reported via social media. "Their expansive rail network supports key industries across the state, from manufacturing and energy to agriculture and consumer goods, ensuring efficient and reliable movement of freight that strengthens economic growth." According to EDCUtah, BNSF "continues to stand out as a strong partner in economic development," as its "collaboration helps to deliver the logistics solutions companies depend on when choosing where to grow." "BNSF is honored to receive this year's Building Together Award from EDCUtah, and proud to play a role in Utah's economic development!" the railroad reported via social media. "We look forward to continuing to support Utah industries and growing alongside them while delivering the freight that keeps the state on the move." A team of UP engineers utilized specialized photographic equipment last year to capture millions of data points from every angle of Big Boy 4014, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, "to create a highly accurate, high-resolution 3D digital model," the Class I railroad reported March 30. (Watch video above.) The model, it said, has been used to evaluate routes on the eastern rail network, where infrastructure can vary and where Big Boy is traveling for the first time, starting May 25, in honor of America's 250th birthday, according to UP. The Big Boy on March 29 left Cheyenne, Wyo., to embark on the first leg of its coast-to-coast tour, making stops in California, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, with public display days planned in Roseville, Calif., and Ogden, Utah. It will return to Wyoming on April 24. (See map below.) The second tour leg, to the East, will include display days in Omaha, Neb.; Chicago, Ill.; Buffalo, N.Y.; and Scranton, Pa., before Big Boy's arrival in Philadelphia for Independence Day. Additional display days are anticipated in Altoona, Pa., and St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo., before the tour concludes July 29. "This is a great example of how we utilize modern tech tools to enhance safety around a 1940s-era steam locomotive," said Timothy Boland, Senior Manager-Engineering Infrastructure at UP. "The level of detail we're getting allows us to validate measurements, understand how the locomotive behaves on curves, and make informed decisions before the engine ever touches the track." "It's another great step toward efficient planning that provides valuable data faster and helps us share the Big Boy with the public, safely and seamlessly," said Ed Dickens Jr., Senior Manager-Heritage Operations at UP. ALCO manufactured 25 Big Boys for UP, 20 in 1941 and five in 1944, to haul heavy freight during World War II. They saw service until their fires were dropped for the last time in 1961. Eight survived. UP re-acquired No. 4014 in 2013 from the RailGiants Museum in Pomona, Calif., and meticulously restored her to operating condition. No. 4014 returned to service in 2019 and is the only functioning Big Boy. In 1941, Railway Age reported on its debut with an extensive technical article (download below).

BNSF customers invest more than $5.3B in 2025. BNSF on March 26 announced that its customers have invested more than $5.3 billion in 2025, completing 117 rail-served projects, the highest number closed in the last six years, according to the Class I. According to BNSF, these projects created more than 1,200 jobs across industrial, agricultural and consumer markets while "expanding production capacity, strengthening supply chains and supporting long-term economic growth." Notable projects completed in 2025 include U.S. Steel and South Dakota Soybean Processors. In addition to strong customer investment activity, BNSF recently welcomed a new Certified Site near Mobile, Ala., the first BNSF Certified Site to be served by a BNSF Shortline Select(TM) Partner, Genesee & Wyoming's (G&W) Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway (AGR). The announcements, the Class I says, "further magnify BNSF's commitment to growth through strategic partnerships." "The record number of projects completed in 2025 reflects strong customer investment and continued confidence in rail-supported growth," said BNSF Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Tom Williams. "At the same time, expanding our portfolio of rail-ready sites strengthens the pipeline for future development, helping customers access markets, expand operations and execute long-term growth strategies with greater certainty."