BNSFoiltrainGRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP  Sept 18, 2013) – The CEO of BNSF Railway Co. says the company is putting billions of dollars into infrastructure improvements and implementing safety measures that should allow it to keep up with demands of shipping crude from North Dakota.
 
     Matt Rose told attendees at the North Dakota Petroleum Council’s annual meeting Friday that BNSF will spend $4.3 billion in 2013 to improve its system and plans to invest $200 million in the next 18 months to increase its capacity to ship oil.
 
     BNSF is the largest shipper of oil in the Bakken and Three Forks formations, moving out about 600,000 barrels a day.
 
     Rose says that while the recent disaster from a train derailment in Quebec has “focused the attention” on shipping hazardous materials by rail, it remains a safe mode of transportation.