BNSF Honors Military Families with Holiday Express Train Ride

BNSF Railway concluded its sixth annual Holiday Express in Richmond, California, Dec. 10. The special train pays tribute to members of the U.S. military and their families.

This year’s Holiday Express train provided rides to more than 3,000 members of military families during its eight-day trip through Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California.

While on board, families were treated to special holiday snacks, given a commemorative holiday ornament and were visited by Santa. About 350 people took part in each trip.

In addition, the BNSF Railway Foundation donated a total of $100,000 to organizations that offer support to military members and their families. For instance at the train’s first stop in Hauser, Idaho, the Foundation donated $10,000 to the Idaho Guard and Reserve Family Support Fund.

Since the Holiday Express’ inaugural trip, the Foundation has donated more than $500,000 to organizations that support the troops and their families and has donated $500,000 to the USO to benefit Operation Enduring Care.

BNSF has a rich history supporting the military, reaching back more than 150 years. Since then, our people, our equipment and our tracks have played a critical role in our nation’s defense strategy, helping to carry millions of men and women and countless tons of ammunition, tanks and other equipment to ports for deployment to conflicts around the world.

Since 2005, BNSF has hired more than 6,000 veterans. Today, veterans represent 17 percent of our workforce. Thousands of BNSF employees have been called to active duty on multiple occasions since September 11, 2001. While deployed, they receive make-whole pay and benefits continuation for themselves and their families.

BNSF’s commitment has earned many honors including the prestigious Department Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Freedom Award, and four Seven Seals Awards. BNSF is consistently recognized as a “Top Military Friendly Employer” by G.I Jobs magazine. 

To view pictures from each of the stops along the Holiday Express, visit BNSF’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/bnsfrailway.