BNSF News

Christmas and New Year’s Holiday Operating Plan

2007-12-20

This year the Christmas holiday will be observed Monday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec. 25, and the New Year’s holiday will be observed Monday, Dec. 31, and Tuesday, Jan. 1. For all business groups, BNSF’s Christmas and New Year’s operating plans will focus on meeting customers’ expectations while allowing employees to spend time with their families during the holidays.

During the holidays, carload train service will generally operate according to normal schedules, subject to crew availability. Train schedules will be adjusted in some cases on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day to allow employees to spend time with their families. Trains will not operate out of origination terminals between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Christmas Day, Tuesday, Dec. 25, and between 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve, Monday, Dec. 31, and 6 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1. 

For intermodal and automotive service, holiday plans for hub and train operations have been posted as customer service advisories on BNSF’s Web site.

Since many merchandise unit-train customers plan reduced operations through the holidays, some merchandise unit-train service will be curtailed.

Throughout the two-day Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods, BNSF may annul or consolidate trains in line with anticipated reduced traffic volumes. Additionally, consistent with the needs of customers, BNSF will reduce local, road-switch and switch engine assignments. 

Unit coal trains – both loaded and empty – will operate normally over the Christmas holiday. However, BNSF will attempt to keep trains at the crew’s home terminal between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Christmas Day, if capacity exists at the terminal. On New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, unit coal trains will operate normally. Since many non-unit train coal customers plan reduced operations over the holidays, to the extent possible, BNSF plans to minimize the operation of freight trains out of origin terminals. Where possible, crews that are away from home will be returned to their home terminals during this holiday window.

Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are grain shuttle holidays.

Mechanical will make efforts to reduce to minimum necessary staffing at locomotive servicing facilities, car inspection points and shops as workloads permit on both the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Maintenance of Way staffing will be adjusted to reflect the holiday operating plan, with staffing levels determined by local division leadership.

Customer Support will maintain a limited staff on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.  Normal coverage will resume on the Wednesday following each holiday.  

BNSF Headquarters

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com