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Commitments and Contingencies - Personal Injury (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]        
Cash and cash equivalents 3,015us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 2,555us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 2,384us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 2,225us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Unasserted Claim        
Asbestos and Personal Injury [Abstract]        
Percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed within the next ten years 60.00%bni_PercentOfFutureUnassertedAsbestosClaimsToBeFiledWithinNextTenYears
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= us-gaap_UnassertedClaimMember
     
Percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed within the next fifteen years 80.00%bni_PercentOfFutureUnassertedAsbestosClaimsToBeFiledWithinNextFifteenYears
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= us-gaap_UnassertedClaimMember
     
Percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed within the next twenty-five years 95.00%bni_PercentOfFutureUnassertedAsbestosClaimsToBeFiledWithinNextTwentyFiveYears
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= us-gaap_UnassertedClaimMember
     
Length in years for 60 percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed 10 years      
Length in years for 80 percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed 15 years      
Length in years for 95 percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed 25 years      
Personal Injury        
Asbestos and Personal Injury [Abstract]        
Future costs to settle personal injury claims, minimum 330us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMinimum
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bni_PersonalInjuryMember
     
Future costs to settle personal injury claims, maximum 440us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bni_PersonalInjuryMember
     
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]        
Beginning balance 375us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bni_PersonalInjuryMember
387us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bni_PersonalInjuryMember
   
Accruals 18us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bni_PersonalInjuryMember
18us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bni_PersonalInjuryMember
   
Payments (20)us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePayments
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bni_PersonalInjuryMember
(19)us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePayments
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bni_PersonalInjuryMember
   
Ending balance 373us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bni_PersonalInjuryMember
386us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bni_PersonalInjuryMember
   
Bank Time Deposits and Money Market Funds | BNSF Insurance Company        
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]        
Cash and cash equivalents 315us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= bni_CommercialPaperBankTimeDepositsAndMoneyMarketFundsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= bni_BnsfInsuranceCompanyMember
  485us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= bni_CommercialPaperBankTimeDepositsAndMoneyMarketFundsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= bni_BnsfInsuranceCompanyMember
 
Current Liabilities [Member]        
Asbestos and Personal Injury [Abstract]        
Accrued obligations for asbestos and other personal injury matters, current liabilities 80us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= bni_CurrentLiabilitiesMember