BNSF Railway Company - Guidelines for Industry Track Projects

Sep 18, 2026

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BNSF Railway Company provides engineering guidelines for developing industry track projects, covering procedures and design requirements across multiple site types. The document explains how customers engage BNSF’s Economic Development representative, submit conceptual layouts, and receive feasibility feedback and a scaled track layout defining BNSF and customer work scopes. It outlines standards for industrial trackage and unit train/loop facilities, survey and planning needs, construction specifications for private contractors, and right-of-way working requirements, including inspection acceptance and checklist-based delivery expectations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages85

Reading Time3 h 34 min

AccessFree to download

1. General Procedure for Industrial Track Projects

1.1 Industrial Site Types

1.2 Contact BNSF Economic Development (ED)

1.3 Submit Conceptual Layout and Scaled Track Schematic

1.4 Prepare Track Plans and Permits

1.5 Plan Revisions and Written Communication

1.6 Cost Estimate and Construction Monitoring

BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY GUIDELINES FOR INDUSTRY TRACK PROJECTS Engineering Services Track & System Design 2600 Lou Menk Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76131 July 2023 Design Guidelines for Industry Track Projects July 2023 Table of Contents Page | 1. General Procedure for Industrial Track Projects | 4 | | --- | --- | | 2. Standards for Industrial Trackage (Non-Unit) | 7 | | 3. Standards for Unit Train/Loop Facilities | 12 | | 4. Survey and Plan Requirements | 17 | | 5. Specifications for Construction of Industrial Trackage by Private Contractor | 23 | | 6. Track Inspection Acceptance Checklist | 31 | | 7. Requirements for Working on BNSF Right of Way | 32 | | Appendix List | Page | Procedures for Continuous Welded Rail in Industry Tracks Preliminary Conceptual Sketch Example Standard Sections for Industry Track Standard Turnout Pad For Industry Tracks Earthen Bumper Details No. 9 Turnout Plan and Geometry No. 11 Turnout Plan and Geometry No. 15 Turnout Plan and Geometry Double Switch Point Derail (16'-6") A-1-11 A-12 A-13 – 15 A-16 A-17 A-18 – 23 A-24 – 29 A-30 – 35 A-36 Switch Stand with 30 Degree Handle Switch Stand Targets Sliding Derail with Crowder Derail Sign Road Crossings Clearance Requirements and Sign Vertical Curves Underground Cable Locate Form Point of Switch and Derail Stake-out Guidelines Receipt of Design Guidelines A-37 A-38 A-39 A-40 A-41 – 43 A-44 – 46 A-47 – 48 A-49 A-50 A-51 1. General Procedure for Industrial Track Projects The purpose of this chapter is to guide the process for the development of industry tracks and facilities. Buildins and tracks other than industrial need to follow BNSF’s Main Line Design Guidelines for Track Projects. 1.1.Industrial Site Types: BNSF Customers should be familiar with the various site location options that are covered by these guidelines. 1.1.1. LOGISTICS PARKS Warehouse and distribution space located at BNSF intermodal facilities. The BNSF Logistics Park strategy uses an intermodal hub to anchor distribution centers nearby, enabling us to partner with trucking companies and ocean carriers and provide streamlined supply chain solutions that connect manufacturers and retailers to their markets. 1.1.2. LOGISTICS CENTERS BNSF-owned industrial parks that offer direct rail service. Logistics centers offer direct-rail service in multi-customer, multi-commodity business parks. These sites are rough-graded for commercial viability and ready for the customer to finish grade and construct their facilities. 1.1.3 CERTIFIED SITES Private parks ready for development along our network and verified by a vigorous review process. BNSF's Site Certification Program identifies optimal rail-served sites and conducts in-depth reviews of ten economic development criteria to determine if the site meets BNSF’s stringent readiness standards, which are intended to minimize development risks customers may face. 1.2. Customer will contact BNSF’s Economic Development (ED) representative. Contact information can be found at [https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/rail-development/build-rail-served](https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/rail-development/build-rail-served)facility/ . 1.3. After contacting the BNSF ED representative, the customer will be asked to provide a conceptual layout for the project. This layout should include property boundaries, existing buildings and roads, and a general location of where the proposed tracks will be located. BNSF will consider the feasibility of constructing the project at the desired location along with operating issues related to product origins and destinations. BNSF will prepare a scaled track layout (project schematic) based on the customer’s concept to ensure the desired operation meets design standards. The project schematic will identify both BNSF’s and the customer’s scopes of work, and then be shared with the Customer (see Appendix, page A-12 for an example

FAQs

What is the purpose of the general procedure chapter for industry track projects?

It guides the process for developing industry tracks and facilities, including coordination steps and design standards. Non-industrial tracks must follow BNSF’s Main Line Design Guidelines for Track Projects.

Which types of industrial site locations are covered in these guidelines?

The document describes Logistics Parks, Logistics Centers, and Certified Sites. Each type has different ownership and service characteristics, such as intermodal anchoring and direct-rail service.

What information should a customer include in the conceptual layout submitted to BNSF?

The layout should show property boundaries, existing buildings and roads, and a general location where the proposed tracks will be placed. BNSF then prepares a scaled track layout based on the concept.

Sep 18, 2026

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