HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Lower carloads and difficult weather continued to eat into the BNSF bottom line as it released fourth quarter and year-end earnings Tuesday.
The nation’s second-largest railroad reported revenue of $5.83 billion in the fourth quarter compared with $6.02 billion in 2018. For the year, total revenue fell by 1% year-over-year.
Carloadings fell in every category for various reasons, from lower import numbers to cheaper natural gas. The railroad was also plagued by flooding in the spring and harsh winter weather in the north and west. Carloadings fell a total of 6% for the quarter and 4% for the year.
Net income for the railroad did increase by 4% for the quarter to $1.42 billion and 5% for the year at $5.21 billion.
BNSF operates about 10 trains per day in Reno County and serves Amtrak’s SW Chief. It’s the second-most valuable company in Reno County paying a total of $1.7 million in property taxes with a total valuation of more than $11.2 million.