Grain Transportation Report, February 12, 2026

BNSF To Spend $3.6 Billion for Capital Investments in 2026.BNSF Railway (BNSF) plans to spend $3.6 billion on capital investments for 2026.About three-quarters of that sum is for maintenance-including surfacing 13,000 miles of track and replacing 2.5 million rail ties and 400 miles of rail.Of the total, another $358 million is budgeted for expansion and efficiency projects.These include acquiring and developing property for the planned Barstow International Gateway project in California, as well as continuing development and starting construction on a future intermodal facility in the Phoenix area.BNSF plans to expand track at its Galesburg, IL, and Winslow, AZ, yards to increase switching capacity.USDA-funded research examined the prospects for creating "inland ports'' (like the Barstow project) to streamline freight movement at California container ports.According to trade data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handled 4.8 million metric tons of containerized grain exports in 2025 (through November)-down 2 percent from the 2022-24 average. Kansas Awards Funds for Short Line Railroad Improvement Projects.This year, 6 (out of 10) funding recipients of Kansas's Rail Service Improvement Program (RSIP) were short line railroads.Collectively, they received $6.7 million to repair and upgrade track, rail yards, and bridges.The other three RSIP recipients were grain shippers/receivers.Ardent Mills received $1.5 million for a rail expansion project (near Wichita, KS); Bartlett Grain Company received $800,000 for a product loadout track extension (Montgomery County, KS); and Kanza Cooperative Association received $120,000 for a rail project at its Andale, KS, location.Short line railroads provide rail access for country elevators and reduce overall reliance on trucks.Rising rail use results in lower emissions and less road congestion and maintenance.However, government funding is often needed to adequately maintain short line tracks. FMC Investigating Ocean Carriers' Restrictions on Chassis Choice.On January 26, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) launched an investigation into ocean carriers' practices that restrict truckers' and shippers' choice of chassis providers.Since around 2010, ocean carriers have sold chassis fleets to third-party, independent equipment providers (IEP).However, FMC has received reports of carriers using various means to coerce truckers and shippers to use the ocean carrier's designated IEP.FMC says these practices may violate the Shipping Act.Limiting chassis choice can raise drayage costs, reduce availability, slow terminal turns, and weaken negotiating power for grain shippers and truckers who depend on reliable container moves.