BNSF Railway has officially completed a significant mainline improvement project in Becker, New Mexico, significantly enhancing its operations along the Southern Transcon route, which is crucial for linking Los Angeles and Chicago. This new development, located next to BNSF's Belen facility—the largest fueling center in North America—increases the train capacity on this route by an impressive 30 percent.
Jon Gabriel, BNSF's Vice President of Service Design, emphasized the strategic importance of this enhancement. "Belen, New Mexico is really the heartbeat of our Southern Transcon, accounting for about a quarter of BNSF’s entire fuel usage and 25% of our volume," said Gabriel. He is set to advance to Group Vice President of Consumer Products this September. "Having this new added capacity in Becker positions us for tremendous growth, while improving service consistency for all our current customer traffic and further reducing our carbon emissions across this key intermodal route."
The upgraded Becker facility is equipped with two new processing tracks, each roughly 20,000 feet long. These tracks will expedite operations by reducing the downtime associated with fueling, inspections, and crew changes, streamlining the flow of goods and services across one of the most vital logistical arteries in the United States.
Located on the Clovis Subdivision, the Belen facility stands as a pivotal point for BNSF, facilitating efficient transit and operational activities between two major U.S. cities, enhancing the railway's capacity to handle increased freight volumes while adhering to sustainability commitments.
