BNSF rail-served facilities top $5.3 billion in 2025

In 2025, BNSF said BNSF rail-served facilities drew more than $5.3 billion. That sum came from customer investment. On March 26, BNSF Railway said its customers completed 117 new or expanded facilities during the year. That was the highest number in six years.

BNSF rail-served facilities hit a six-year high

Also, BNSF noted the designation of a new Certified Site for development near Mobile, Ala. Meanwhile, the site is the first location served by a BNSF Shortline Select partner. That partner is Genesee & Wyoming’s Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway.

“The record number of projects completed in 2025 reflects strong customer investment and continued confidence in rail-supported growth,” BNSF Chief Marketing Officer Tom Williams said in a press release. “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.”

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Big River Steel Works and High Plains Processing Plant

Separately, BNSF highlighted two completed projects. One was U.S. Steel’s Big River Steel Works in Osceola, Ark. The other was South Dakota Soybean Processors’ High Plains Processing Plant near Mitchell, S.D.

Big River Steel Works

For example, approximately $27 million was spent there to expand and improve rail infrastructure. It was part of a multi-year, $3 billion project at the mini mill. According to U.S. Steel, annual production capacity reached nearly 6 million tons. That followed the opening of Big River 2. In addition, the site includes almost 40 miles of track. It handles inbound raw materials and outbound finished products.

High Plains Processing Plant

Still, the High Plains Processing Plant is a $500 million facility. According to High Plains Processing, the plant can process approximately 35 million bushels of soybeans annually and is expected to support an estimated 85 full-time jobs and annual payroll of about $5.5 million. At the same time, the plant opened in September after two years of construction. It stands on 296 acres adjacent to BNSF’s main line. It is the state’s first large-scale, multi-seed processing facility.

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