BNSF to invest over $100 million expanding California rail capacity

BNSF to invest over $100 million expanding California rail capacity    BNSF Railway Co. said Friday it will spend more than $100 million of its $2.4 billion capital spending budget for 2006, expanding its capacity in California.
   BNSF’s capacity enhancements in California include a $26 million expansion of parking and stacking capacity at its Hobart intermodal facility in Los Angeles; a $16 million track expansion on its main line near East Barstow; a $9 million expansion of parking capacity at its San Bernardino intermodal facility; and continuing work on a third main line on the Cajon subdivision.
   The railroad also said about $600 million of its 2006 capital program will be used to acquire 310 low-emissions locomotives, many of which will operate through California.
   Matthew K. Rose, BNSF’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, said in a letter to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, that the demand for expanded rail capacity would outpace the ability of private railroads to invest enough capital.
   Rose welcomed Caltrans’ consideration to allocate $155 million to add a third rail line and additional overpasses between Los Angeles and Fullerton. “The BNSF/Caltrans partnership has been invaluable as together we build California’s rail infrastructure for passenger and freight mobility,” Rose said.