Employment Benefit Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Employment Benefit Plans

Employment Benefit Plans

Components of the net cost for the periods presented below for certain employee benefit plans were as follows (in millions):

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended September 30,
Net Cost	2013			2012
Service cost	$	12		$	10
Interest cost	22			25
Expected return on plan assets	(31		)	(30		)
Amortization of net loss	5			3
Net cost recognized	$	8		$	8

	Pension Benefits
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
Net Cost	2013			2012
Service cost	$	35		$	29
Interest cost	67			75
Expected return on plan assets	(93		)	(89		)
Amortization of net loss	13			8
Net cost recognized	$	22		$	23

	Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits
	Three Months Ended September 30,
Net Cost	2013			2012
Interest cost	$	3		$	4
Amortization of prior service cost	(1		)	—
Amortization of net loss	2			—
Net cost recognized	$	4		$	4

	Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
Net Cost	2013			2012
Service Cost	$	1		$	1
Interest cost	9			10
Amortization of prior service cost	(1		)	—
Amortization of net loss	4			1
Net cost recognized	$	13		$	12

The Company is not required to make contributions to the BNSF Retirement Plan in 2013; however, the Company made a discretionary contribution of $25 million in March 2013.