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BNSF Partners with IBM for a Decade-Long Tech Overhaul

IBM

Business Honor
16 August, 2024

New Deal Brings Innovation and Job Opportunities to Railroad Industry

In a groundbreaking move for the railroad industry, BNSF Railway and IBM Global Services have announced a transformative 10-year partnership. Starting September 1, IBM will take over the management of BNSF’s mainframe, midrange, and desktop computing systems, as well as oversee operations at the railroad’s data centers in Topeka, Kansas, and Fort Worth, Texas.

As part of this significant agreement, IBM will also handle BNSF’s email systems and much of its technical support services. In a move that underscores its commitment to the workforce, IBM plans to offer positions to approximately 120 BNSF employees affected by this shift.

Greg Fox, Vice President of Technology Services and Chief Information Officer at BNSF, emphasized the benefits of this deal: “This agreement not only ensures ongoing savings for BNSF but also creates new opportunities for our 500 technology professionals who will continue to work with us across various locations.”

The partnership will also open doors to IBM's center of transportation innovation in Boulder, Colorado. This collaboration aims to bring together experts from BNSF, IBM Research, and IBM’s transportation consulting division to develop cutting-edge technology applications. These innovations could potentially be used within BNSF or marketed to other companies, generating new revenue streams.

This strategic alliance marks a new era for BNSF, positioning the company at the forefront of technological advancements in the transportation sector.