CSX BNSF winter storm preparations as crews brace for impacts

CSX BNSF winter storm preparations were outlined Thursday as both railroads warned that a major winter storm could create rail network impacts across large portions of their systems.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Norfolk Southern also issued a customer advisory saying it was preparing for the same storm, which is beginning to hit some areas on Thursday, Jan. 22, and is expected to move east through the weekend.

CSX plans for ice, outages and network coverage

On CSX’s quarterly earnings call, Chief Operating Officer Mike Cory said the railroad was expecting ice across its network from Nashville, Tenn., through Georgia, with snow farther north. He said CSX will keep senior coverage right around the clock in key locations, including its network center.

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Cory said teams have been checking everything from snow clearing and tree clearing to generators and other essentials needed at each location and facility in the storm’s path. CSX, he added, is focused on protecting assets while preparing for power outages and highway closures that could slow recovery. If the storm hits Sunday, he said the railroad is looking at midweek to recover, and he did not expect conditions to clear for a few days.

BNSF customer advisory and winter action plans

In a customer advisory posted Thursday, BNSF said it will adjust train lengths and use distributed power where appropriate to maintain train air pressure, while also positioning snow-removal equipment and keeping rapid-response teams available 24/7, as outlined in a BNSF customer notification and covered by Railway Supply.

Those rapid-response groups include engineering crews focused on snow and track conditions, along with mechanical teams that can handle locomotive and railcar issues. BNSF also said it has passenger railcars available to transport crews and support operations where highway conditions could become a problem.

Forecast details and intermodal facilities guidance

Norfolk Southern’s advisory, issued Wednesday, said no terminal or gate closures were planned for intermodal facilities, but the railroad would continue to monitor and adapt to conditions through the weekend, according to its Significant Winter Weather Alert. The advisory said widespread snowfall of 3 to 6 inches is forecast from the southern plains through the Tennessee Valley, southern Appalachians, Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic regions, with localized snowfall of 6 to 12 inches.

BNSF said snow accumulations of 8 to 15 inches are possible from central Oklahoma to western Kentucky, along with sleet and freezing rain. Northern areas, the advisories noted, will see wind chills well below zero. Other railroads may have issued similar notices, although some place customer updates in password-protected sections of their websites.

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