News Release

BNSF Railway Company Honored for Business Diversity

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 18, 2009:

BNSF Railway Company recently received the 2009 Mayor's Small Business Advocate Award from the Business Assistance Center in Fort Worth, Texas, for its outstanding work with small, minority- and women-owned businesses.

"I believe that diversity can no longer be just another program. It must become a way of life as we develop and strengthen partnerships within the communities we serve," said Matthew K. Rose, BNSF chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Diverse suppliers help drive innovation and creativity in the marketplace and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts."

In 1999, BNSF established a diverse enterprise process to develop long-term relationships with diverse, local businesses across the system. The process has proven to be an excellent source of suppliers throughout the railway's network. BNSF has spent almost $400 million on diverse businesses.

"BNSF Railway is charting the path for other area companies to follow. We appreciate their commitment to diversity and business development along with the company's vision and leadership," said Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief.

In addition to working with the city of Fort Worth, BNSF works with the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the federal Small Business Administration and local minority chambers of commerce to seek out new businesses to become part of the BNSF supply chain. BNSF utilizes a wide range of contracted services and products. Minority-owned companies wishing to work with BNSF are encouraged to submit their information via the BNSF Web site at http://www.bnsf.com/bnsf.was6/svt/SVTCentralServlet?network=Internet.

About BNSF

A subsidiary of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (NYSE:BNI), BNSF Railway Company operates one of the largest North American rail networks, with about 32,000 route miles in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF is among the world's top transporters of intermodal traffic, moves more grain than any other American railroad, carries the components of many of the products we depend on daily, and hauls enough low-sulfur coal to generate about ten percent of the electricity produced in the United States. BNSF is an industry leader in Web-enabling a variety of customer transactions at www.bnsf.com.

BNSF Headquarters
BNSF Railway Company
2650 Lou Menk Dr. 2nd Floor
Fort Worth, TX 76131-2830
P.O. Box 961057
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057
Phone: (817) 352-1000