BNSF Railway is investing in a major expansion at its Galesburg rail yard as part of the company’s $4 billion capital investment plan for 2026.
The project will add a second hump lead track and a connection track at the Galesburg Terminal to increase railcar switching capacity and improve efficiency of terminal operations.
“We’re adding a second hump lead track and a connection track at the Galesburg yard to increase railcar switching capacity and to improve efficiency of terminal operations,” Kendall Sloan with BNSF Media said in a statement provided to WGIL. “This project will improve service performance by enabling railcars to be routed more efficiently across BNSF’s network.”
The connection track will provide additional routing flexibility within the yard, allowing railcars to move more efficiently between different sections of the terminal.
‘BNSF is vital to our region’s economy’
BNSF is Galesburg’s largest employer, with approximately 1,000 employees in the area, according to the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development.
Ken Springer, president of the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development, said the investment reinforces the region’s competitive advantage in transportation and logistics.
“The Knox County Area Partnership is very happy to see BNSF investing additional capital into Galesburg Terminal operation,” Springer told WGIL. “As our community’s largest employer, the continued success of BNSF is vital to our region’s economy.”
“Freight rail transportation is one of our region’s key growth industries,” Springer added. “Continued investment in rail infrastructure in this region only adds to our community’s unique competitive advantage in transportation and market access.”
BNSF’s $4 billion capital investment plan for 2026 includes investments in track, bridges, tunnels, locomotives, freight cars, technology, and facilities across its network. The company operates one of the largest freight railroad networks in North America, with more than 32,500 route miles of track across 28 states and three Canadian provinces.
The Galesburg expansion is part of BNSF’s broader effort to maintain and enhance its infrastructure to meet growing freight demand and improve service reliability.
The BNSF expansion comes as Galesburg continues to see investment in rail-related infrastructure, including a $54 million ag terminal project at the Galesburg Business Park.
