FARGO (AP) - The executive chairman of BNSF Railway says his company is making progress on clearing out a backlog of grain cars in advance of the harvest.
Matt Rose told a group of agriculture producers and shippers Thursday that the number of past due cars should be down to 1,000 in a week, from 4,000 in mid-July. Rose says if predictions of a later-than-normal harvest pan out and farmers aren't selling, the railway should be completely caught up.
Rose told the group that complaints about the railway failing one industry over another are unfounded. He says the backlog for the private tank fleet is the same as the ag fleet.
Members of North Dakota's congressional delegation, which sponsored the meeting with Rose, plan to meet with Canadian Pacific officials next week.