HUTCHINSON, Kan. — BNSF saw an overall decline in earnings and revenue as the pandemic curtailed transportation across the country.
The nation’s second-largest railroad reported second-quarter revenue of $4,602,000,000 a decrease of 22%. Operating income fell 14% to $1,700,000,000.
The pandemic slowed car loadings in every sector with coal loads falling 34% and ag products dropping by 7%. Overall car loadings fell by 18%. The railroad was able to offset the losses by cutting expenses by 26% and cut more than $300,000,000 from its capital improvement plan for 2020.
BNSF operates about 10 trains per day through Reno County and is the second-largest property taxpayer in the county.