Great Northern

True to its name, the Great Northern Corridor spans the northern United States between the Pacific Northwest and Chicago, as well as reaching key southern points in Canada. Almost 25 million people live and work in the areas served by the Great Northern accounting for over $1.4 trillion in gross domestic product and almost 12 million jobs. For trains coming from the east, the Great Northern serves ports in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia offering export service for agriculture, raw materials and finished goods. The Corridor features major river crossings, the two longest tunnels in the nation, mountain passes, snow sheds, tunnels and the lowest rail crossing of the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. at 5,215 feet. From western ports, the Great Northern ultimately connects to vital logistics parks and eastern rail connections in Chicago and beyond.

At a Glance
The Great Northern has 3,422 route miles traversing eight states and reaching three Canadian Provinces. Get a state-by-state breakdown of the population served by the Great Northern, associated GDP, route miles and carloads handled.

Impact
BNSF has made substantial investments in the Great Northern Corridor to create a more efficient freight railway system to foster economic growth. Read about those improvements.

Development: Today & Tomorrow
Read about projects in partnership with BNSF’s public partners who recognize the value of investing in rail and the benefits to their state, region or community.