1.0.0.3 false Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions false 3 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 false 4 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 5 OPERATING ACTIVITIES 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 6 Net income 4 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 697000000 697 false false 2 true true 805000000 805 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: 4 us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNoncashItemsIncludedInIncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 8 Depreciation and amortization 5 us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 749000000 749 false false 2 false true 690000000 690 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Deferred income taxes 5 us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 258000000 258 false false 2 false true 132000000 132 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Employee separation costs paid 5 us-gaap_PaymentsForMergerRelatedCostsAndRestructuringCosts us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -6000000 -6 false false 2 false true -7000000 -7 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Long-term casualty and environmental liabilities, net 5 bni_LongTermCasualtyAndEnvironmentalLiabilitiesNet bni false credit duration monetary The net change during the reporting period in the amount of noncurrent costs accrued for casualty, environmental and other... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -30000000 -30 false false 2 false true 191000000 191 false false The net change during the reporting period in the amount of noncurrent costs accrued for casualty, environmental and other loss contingencies. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Other, net 5 bni_OtherNet bni false credit duration monetary The net cash inflow (outflow) from other operating activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 21000000 21 false false 2 false true 40000000 40 false false The net cash inflow (outflow) from other operating activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element in the taxonomy. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Changes in current assets and liabilities: 4 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapitalAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 14 Accounts receivable, net 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 88000000 88 false false 2 false true -36000000 -36 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Change in accounts receivables sales program 5 bni_ChangeInAccountsReceivableSalesProgram bni false credit duration monetary The change during the reporting period in the amount of oustanding undivided interests held by investors under the Accounts... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -50000000 -50 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false The change during the reporting period in the amount of oustanding undivided interests held by investors under the Accounts Receivable sales program. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Materials and supplies 5 bni_IncreaseDecreaseInMaterialsAndSupplies bni false credit duration monetary The net change during the reporting period in the aggregate value of all materials and supplies held by the reporting entity,... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -9000000 -9 false false 2 false true -110000000 -110 false false The net change during the reporting period in the aggregate value of all materials and supplies held by the reporting entity, associated with underlying transactions that are classified as operating activities. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Other current assets 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -146000000 -146 false false 2 false true -197000000 -197 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Accounts payable and other current liabilities 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -50000000 -50 false false 2 false true 148000000 148 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 19 Net cash provided by operating activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1522000000 1522 false false 2 false true 1656000000 1656 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 20 INVESTING ACTIVITIES 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 21 Capital expenditures 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1082000000 -1082 false false 2 false true -1042000000 -1042 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Construction costs for facility financing obligation 4 bni_ConstructionCostsForFacilityFinancingObligation bni false debit duration monetary Payments for construction costs of a facility that the Company intends to sell to a third party and subsequently lease back. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -31000000 -31 false false 2 false true -17000000 -17 false false Payments for construction costs of a facility that the Company intends to sell to a third party and subsequently lease back. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Acquisition of equipment pending financing 4 bni_AcquisitionOfEquipmentPendingFinancing bni false credit duration monetary The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -456000000 -456 false false 2 false true -430000000 -430 false false The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business which are designated to be sold and leased back in the future; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets. No authoritative reference available. false 24 Proceeds from sale of assets financed 4 bni_ProceedsFromSaleOfAssetsFinanced bni false credit duration monetary The cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 368000000 368 false false 2 false true 190000000 190 false false The cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and are subsequently leased back. No authoritative reference available. false 25 Other, net 4 us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -96000000 -96 false false 2 false true -110000000 -110 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 26 Net cash used for investing activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1297000000 -1297 false false 2 false true -1409000000 -1409 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 27 FINANCING ACTIVITIES 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 28 Net increase in commercial paper and bank borrowings 4 bni_NetDecreaseIncreaseInCommercialPaperAndBankBorrowings bni false debit duration monetary The cash inflow (outflow) for borrowings with initial terms of repayment within one year or the normal operating cycle, if... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 167000000 167 false false 2 false true 44000000 44 false false The cash inflow (outflow) for borrowings with initial terms of repayment within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. No authoritative reference available. false 29 Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 650000000 650 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 30 Payments on long-term debt 4 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -322000000 -322 false false 2 false true -109000000 -109 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 31 Dividends paid 4 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -273000000 -273 false false 2 false true -223000000 -223 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 32 Proceeds from stock options exercised 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 12000000 12 false false 2 false true 79000000 79 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 33 Purchase of BNSF common stock 4 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfEquity us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -12000000 -12 false false 2 false true -642000000 -642 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 34 Excess tax benefits from equity compensation plans 4 us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 6000000 6 false false 2 false true 82000000 82 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 35 Proceeds from facility financing obligation 4 bni_ProceedsFromFacilityFinancingObligation bni false debit duration monetary Proceeds from the financing related to the construction of a facility that the Company intends to sell to a third party and... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 51000000 51 false false 2 false true 29000000 29 false false Proceeds from the financing related to the construction of a facility that the Company intends to sell to a third party and subsequently lease back. No authoritative reference available. false 36 Other, net 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -3000000 -3 false false 2 false true -6000000 -6 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 37 Net cash used for financing activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -374000000 -374 false false 2 false true -96000000 -96 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 38 (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -149000000 -149 false false 2 false true 151000000 151 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 39 Cash and cash equivalents: 3 bni_CashAndCashEquivalentsAbstract bni false na duration string Cash and cash equivalents. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false Cash and cash equivalents. false 40 Beginning of period 4 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false true 633000000 633 false false 2 false true 330000000 330 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 41 End of period 4 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true 484000000 484 false false 2 false true 481000000 481 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 42 SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION 3 us-gaap_SupplementalCashFlowInformationAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 43 Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized 4 us-gaap_InterestPaidNet us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 296000000 296 false false 2 false true 241000000 241 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 44 Income taxes paid, net of refunds 4 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 118000000 118 false false 2 false true 400000000 400 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 45 Non-cash asset financing 4 us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 433000000 433 false false 2 true true 61000000 61 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true false 2 41 false Millions UnKnown UnKnown false true