10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ___________TO __________

Commission file number            1-11535

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	27-1754839
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

2650 Lou Menk Drive

Fort Worth, Texas

(Address of principal executive offices)

76131-2830

(Zip Code)

(800) 795-2673

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class	Trading symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
None	None	None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Limited Liability Company Membership Interest

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.	Yes	☒	No	☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).	Yes	☒	No	☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,”and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☐	Non-accelerated filer	☒	Smaller reporting company	☐	Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.				☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).	Yes	☐	No	☒

Registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction H (1) (a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this Form 10-Q with the reduced disclosure format permitted by General Instruction H (2).

Table of Contents

PART I	FINANCIAL INFORMATION	PAGE
Item 1.	Financial Statements	3
Item 2.	Management’s Narrative Analysis of Results of Operations	15
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	18
PART II	OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6.	Exhibits	19
Signatures		S-1

2

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.Financial Statements

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Revenues	$	5,401	$	5,417
Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits	1,183		1,244
Purchased services	665		666
Depreciation and amortization	619		615
Fuel	550		614
Equipment rents	171		165
Materials and other	324		290
Total operating expenses	3,512		3,594
Operating income	1,889		1,823
Interest expense	258		262
Other (income) expense, net	(28)		(23)
Income before income taxes	1,659		1,584
Income tax expense	408		394
Net income	$	1,251	$	1,190

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

3

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Net income	$	1,251	$	1,190
Other comprehensive income:
Change in pension and retiree health and welfare benefits, net of tax	1		—
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) of equity method investees	—		1
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1		1
Total comprehensive income	$	1,252	$	1,191

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,951	$	1,986
Accounts receivable, net	1,291		1,243
Materials and supplies	852		803
Other current assets	127		91
Total current assets	4,221		4,123
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $13,687 and $13,175, respectively	65,042		65,088
Goodwill	14,851		14,851
Operating lease right-of-use assets	1,840		1,928
Other assets	2,719		2,670
Total assets	$	88,673	$	88,660
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	$	3,700	$	3,434
Long-term debt and finance leases due within one year	1,338		917
Total current liabilities	5,038		4,351
Long-term debt and finance leases	21,478		22,303
Deferred income taxes	14,686		14,626
Operating lease liabilities	1,143		1,286
Casualty and environmental liabilities	435		428
Pension and retiree health and welfare liability	310		314
Other liabilities	1,327		1,348
Total liabilities	44,417		44,656
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 5)
Equity:
Member’s equity	44,157		43,906
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	99		98
Total equity	44,256		44,004
Total liabilities and equity	$	88,673	$	88,660

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

5

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Operating Activities
Net income	$	1,251	$	1,190
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	619		615
Deferred income taxes	58		87
Long-term casualty and environmental liabilities, net	7		(15)
Other, net	(69)		(122)
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(48)		2
Materials and supplies	(49)		54
Other current assets	(32)		(10)
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	219		(52)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,956		1,749
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures excluding equipment	(530)		(650)
Acquisition of equipment	(26)		(37)
Proceeds from sales of investments and maturities of time deposits	1		13
Other, net	(29)		(56)
Net cash used in investing activities	(584)		(730)
Financing Activities
Payments on long-term debt and finance leases	(407)		(51)
Cash distributions	(1,000)		(1,100)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,407)		(1,151)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(35)		(132)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period	1,986		1,984
End of period	$	1,951	$	1,852
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	$	300	$	305
Capital investments accrued but not yet paid	$	129	$	145
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	$	7	$	3
Non-cash asset financing	$	4	$	6

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

6

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

	Member’s Equity		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Total Equity
Balance as of December 31, 2019	$	43,575	$	145	$	43,720
Cash distributions	(1,100)		—		(1,100)
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,190		1		1,191
Balance as of March 31, 2020	$	43,665	$	146	$	43,811

Balance as of December 31, 2020	$	43,906	$	98	$	44,004
Cash distributions	(1,000)		—		(1,000)
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,251		1		1,252
Balance as of March 31, 2021	$	44,157	$	99	$	44,256

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

7

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

1.Accounting Policies and Interim Results

The Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, including the financial statements and notes thereto. Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC (BNSF) is a holding company that conducts no operating activities and owns no significant assets other than through its interests in its subsidiaries. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of BNSF and its majority-owned subsidiaries, all of which are separate legal entities (collectively, the Company). BNSF’s principal operating subsidiary is BNSF Railway Company (BNSF Railway). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

On February 12, 2010, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a Delaware corporation (Berkshire), acquired 100 percent of the outstanding shares of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation common stock that it did not already own. The acquisition was completed through the merger (Merger) of a Berkshire wholly-owned merger subsidiary and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation with the surviving entity renamed Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC. Earnings per share data is not presented because BNSF has only one holder of its membership interests.

The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the entire year. In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, except as disclosed) necessary for the fair statement of BNSF’s consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2021, and the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

2.Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Company disaggregates revenue from contracts with customers based on the characteristics of the services provided and the types of products transported (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Consumer Products	$	1,890	$	1,765
Agricultural Products	1,308		1,144
Industrial Products	1,226		1,465
Coal	686		766
Total freight revenues	5,110		5,140
Non-rail logistics subsidiary	180		173
Accessorial and other	111		104
Total other revenues	291		277
Total operating revenues	$	5,401	$	5,417

Contract assets and liabilities are immaterial. Receivables from contracts with customers is a component of accounts receivable, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, $1.1 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively, represented net receivables from contracts with customers.

Remaining performance obligations primarily consist of in-transit freight revenues, which will be recognized in the next reporting period. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, remaining performance obligations were $260 million and $204 million, respectively.

3.Accounts Receivable, Net

Accounts receivable, net consists of freight and other receivables, reduced by an allowance for credit losses which is based upon expected collectability. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, $47 million and $54 million, respectively, of such allowance had been recorded.

8

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) - (Continued)

4.Debt

Notes and Debentures

As of March 31, 2021, $1.1 billion remained authorized by the Board of Directors to be issued through the Securities and Exchange Commission debt shelf offering process.

The Company is required to maintain certain financial covenants in conjunction with $500 million of certain issued and outstanding junior subordinated notes. As of March 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with these financial covenants.

Subsequent Event

In April 2021, BNSF issued $925 million of 3.30 percent debentures due September 15, 2051. The net proceeds from the sale of the debentures will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include but are not limited to working capital, capital expenditures, repayment of outstanding indebtedness and distributions.

Fair Value of Debt Instruments

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the fair value of BNSF’s debt, excluding finance leases, was $26.6 billion and $29.3 billion, respectively, while the book value, which also excludes finance leases, was $22.6 billion and $22.9 billion, respectively. The fair value of BNSF’s debt is primarily based on market value price models using observable market-based data for the same or similar issues, or on the estimated rates that would be offered to BNSF for debt of the same remaining maturities (Level 2 inputs).

Guarantees 

As of March 31, 2021, BNSF has not been called upon to perform under the guarantees specifically disclosed in this footnote and does not anticipate a significant performance risk in the foreseeable future.

Debt and other obligations of non-consolidated entities guaranteed by the Company as of March 31, 2021, were as follows (dollars in millions):

	Guarantees
	BNSF Ownership Percentage		Principal Amount Guaranteed		Maximum Future Payments		Maximum Recourse Amounta		Remaining Term (in years)	Capitalized Obligations
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.	0.5	%	$	190	$	190	$	—	Termination of Ownership	$	2	b
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP	—	%	N/Ad		N/Ad		N/Ad		6	$	13	c

aReflects the maximum amount the Company could recover from a third party other than the counterparty.

bReflects capitalized obligations that are recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

cReflects the asset and corresponding liability for the fair value of these guarantees required by authoritative accounting guidance related to guarantees.

dThere is no cap to the liability that can be sought from BNSF for BNSF’s negligence or the negligence of the indemnified party. However, BNSF could receive reimbursement from certain insurance policies if the liability exceeds a certain amount.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.

Santa Fe Pacific Pipelines, Inc., an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BNSF, has a guarantee in connection with its remaining special limited partnership interest in Santa Fe Pacific Pipeline Partners, L.P. (SFPP), a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., to be paid only upon default by the partnership. All obligations with respect to the guarantee will cease upon termination of ownership rights, which would occur upon a put notice issued by BNSF or the exercise of the call rights by the general partners of SFPP.

9

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) - (Continued)

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP

BNSF has an indemnity agreement with Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP (Chevron Phillips), granting certain rights of indemnity from BNSF, in order to facilitate access to a storage facility. Under certain circumstances, payment under this obligation may be required in the event Chevron Phillips were to incur certain liabilities or other incremental costs resulting from trackage access.

Indemnities

In the ordinary course of business, BNSF enters into agreements with third parties that include indemnification clauses. The Company believes that these clauses are generally customary for the types of agreements in which they are included. At times, these clauses may involve indemnification for the acts of the Company, its employees and agents, indemnification for another party’s acts, indemnification for future events, indemnification based upon a certain standard of performance, indemnification for liabilities arising out of the Company’s use of leased equipment or other property, or other types of indemnification. Despite the uncertainty whether events which would trigger the indemnification obligations would ever occur, the Company does not believe that these indemnity agreements will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. Additionally, the Company believes that, due to lack of historical payment experience, the fair value of indemnities cannot be estimated with any amount of certainty and that the fair value of any such amount would be immaterial to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Unless separately disclosed above, no fair value liability related to indemnities has been recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

5.Commitments and Contingencies

Personal Injury

BNSF’s personal injury liability includes the cost of claims for employee work-related injuries, third-party claims, and asbestos claims. BNSF records a liability for asserted and unasserted claims when the expected loss is both probable and reasonably estimable. Because of the uncertainty of the timing of future payments, the liability is undiscounted. Defense and processing costs, which are recorded on an as-reported basis, are not included in the recorded liability. Expense accruals and adjustments are classified as materials and other in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Personal injury claims by BNSF Railway employees are subject to the provisions of the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) rather than state workers’ compensation laws. Resolution of these cases under the FELA’s fault-based system requires either a finding of fault by a jury or an out of court settlement. Third-party claims include claims by non-employees for compensatory damages and may, from time to time, include requests for punitive damages or treatment of the claim as a class action.

BNSF estimates its personal injury liability claims and expense using standard actuarial methodologies based on the covered population, activity levels and trends in frequency, and the costs of covered injuries. The Company monitors actual experience against the forecasted number of claims to be received, the forecasted number of claims closing with payment, and expected claim payments and records adjustments as new events or changes in estimates develop.

BNSF is party to asbestos claims by employees and non-employees who may have been exposed to asbestos. Because of the relatively finite exposed population, the Company has recorded an estimate for the full amount of probable exposure. This is determined through an actuarial analysis based on estimates of the exposed population, the number of claims likely to be filed, the number of claims that will likely require payment, and the cost per claim. Estimated filing and dismissal rates and average cost per claim are determined utilizing recent claim data and trends.

10

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) - (Continued)

The following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s accrued obligations for personal injury claims (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	273	$	275
Accruals / changes in estimates	17		11
Payments	(6)		(22)
Ending balance	$	284	$	264
Current portion of ending balance	$	75	$	70

The amount recorded by the Company for the personal injury liability is based upon the best information currently available. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the ultimate outcome of personal injury claims, it is reasonably possible that future costs to resolve these claims may be different from the recorded amounts. The Company estimates that costs to resolve the liability may range from approximately $245 million to $340 million.

Although the final outcome of these personal injury matters cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of BNSF that none of these items, when finally resolved, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or liquidity. However, the occurrence of a number of these items in the same period could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations in a particular quarter or fiscal year.

Environmental

BNSF is subject to extensive federal, state, and local environmental regulation. The Company’s operating procedures include practices to protect the environment from the risks inherent in railroad operations, which frequently involve transporting chemicals and other hazardous materials. Additionally, many of BNSF’s land holdings are or have been used for industrial or transportation-related purposes or leased to commercial or industrial companies whose activities may have resulted in discharges onto the property. Under federal (in particular, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) and state statutes, the Company may be held jointly and severally liable for cleanup and enforcement costs associated with a particular site without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct. The Company participates in the study, cleanup, or both of environmental contamination at approximately 200 sites.

Environmental costs may include, but are not limited to, site investigations, remediation, and restoration. The liability is recorded when the expected loss is both probable and reasonably estimable and is undiscounted due to uncertainty of the timing of future payments. Expense accruals and adjustments are classified as materials and other in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

BNSF estimates the cost of cleanup efforts at its known environmental sites based on experience gained from cleanup efforts at similar sites, estimated percentage to closure ratios, possible remediation work plans, estimates of the costs and likelihood of each possible outcome, historical payment patterns, and benchmark patterns developed from data accumulated from industry and public sources. The Company monitors actual experience against expectations and records adjustments as new events or changes in estimates develop.

The following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s accrued obligations for environmental costs (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	265	$	282
Accruals / changes in estimates	1		1
Payments	(5)		(5)
Ending balance	$	261	$	278
Current portion of ending balance	$	35	$	40

11

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) - (Continued)

The amount recorded by the Company for the environmental liability is based upon the best information currently available. It has not been reduced by anticipated recoveries from third parties and includes both asserted and unasserted claims. BNSF’s total cleanup costs at these sites cannot be predicted with certainty due to various factors, such as the extent of corrective actions that may be required, evolving environmental laws and regulations, advances in environmental technology, the extent of other parties’ participation in cleanup efforts, developments in ongoing environmental analyses related to sites determined to be contaminated, and developments in environmental surveys and studies of contaminated sites. Because of the uncertainty surrounding various factors, it is reasonably possible that future costs to settle these claims may be different from the recorded amounts. The Company estimates that costs to settle the liability may range from approximately $215 million to $350 million.

Although the final outcome of these environmental matters cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of BNSF that none of these items, when finally resolved, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or liquidity. However, the occurrence of a number of these items in the same period could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations in a particular quarter or fiscal year.

Other Claims and Litigation

In addition to personal injury and environmental matters, BNSF and its subsidiaries are also parties to a number of other legal actions and claims, governmental proceedings, and private civil suits arising in the ordinary course of business, including those related to disputes and complaints involving certain transportation rates and charges. Some of the legal proceedings include claims for compensatory damages and may, from time to time, include requests for punitive damages or treatment of the claim as a class action. Although the final outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of BNSF that none of these items, when finally resolved, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or liquidity. However, the occurrence of a number of these items in the same period could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations in a particular quarter or fiscal year.

BNSF Insurance Company

BNSF has a consolidated, wholly-owned subsidiary, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Insurance Company, Ltd. (BNSFIC), that offers insurance coverage for certain risks, including FELA claims, railroad protective and force account insurance claims, certain excess general liability and property coverage, and certain other claims which are subject to reinsurance. BNSFIC has entered into annual reinsurance treaty agreements with several other companies. The treaty agreements insure workers’ compensation, general liability, auto liability, and FELA risk. In accordance with the agreements, BNSFIC cedes a portion of its FELA exposure through the treaties and assumes a proportionate share of the entire risk. Each year, BNSFIC reviews the objectives and performance of the treaties to determine its continued participation. The treaty agreements provide for certain protections against the risk of treaty participants’ non-performance. On an ongoing basis, BNSF and/or the treaty manager reviews the creditworthiness of each of the participants. The Company does not believe its exposure to treaty participants’ non-performance is material at this time. BNSFIC typically invests in time deposits, money market accounts, and treasuries. As of both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there was $548 million related to these third-party investments, which were classified as cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

6.Employment Benefit Plans

BNSF provides a funded, noncontributory qualified pension plan (BNSF Retirement Plan), which covers most non-union employees, and an unfunded non-tax-qualified pension plan (BNSF Supplemental Retirement Plan), which covers certain officers and other employees. The benefits under these pension plans are based on years of credited service and the highest consecutive sixty months of compensation for the last ten years of salaried employment with the Company. In 2019, the Company amended the BNSF Retirement Plan and the BNSF Supplemental Retirement Plan. Non-union employees hired on or after April 1, 2019 are not eligible to participate in these retirement plans and instead receive an additional employer contribution as part of the qualified 401(k) plan based on the employees’ age and years of service. Current plan participants are being transitioned away from the retirement plans and upon transition are eligible for the additional employer contribution.

BNSF also provides a funded, noncontributory qualified pension plan which covers certain union employees of the former The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company (Union Plan). The benefits under this pension plan are based on elections made at the time the plan was implemented.

12

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) - (Continued)

With respect to the funded plans, the Company's funding policy is to contribute annually not less than the regulatory minimum and not more than the maximum amount deductible for income tax purposes. The BNSF Retirement Plan, the BNSF Supplemental Retirement Plan, and the Union Plan are collectively referred to herein as the Pension Plans.

Components of the net (benefit) cost for the Pension Plans were as follows (in millions):

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Service cost	$	6	$	5
Interest cost	14		18
Expected return on plan assets	(44)		(42)
Net (benefit) cost recognized	$	(24)	$	(19)

Service cost is included in compensation and benefits expense and the other components of net periodic benefit costs are included in other (income) expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

7.Related Party Transactions

The companies identified as affiliates of BNSF include Berkshire and its subsidiaries. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company declared and paid cash distributions of $1.0 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively, to Berkshire. In both of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company made tax payments of less than $1 million to Berkshire. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had a tax payable to Berkshire of $360 million and $70 million, respectively.

BNSF engages in various transactions with related parties in the ordinary course of business. The following table summarizes revenues earned by BNSF for services provided to related parties and expenditures to related parties (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Revenues	$	23	$	37
Expenditures	$	97	$	93

BNSF owns 17.3 percent of TTX Company (TTX) while other North American railroads own the remaining interest. As BNSF possesses the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the operating and financial policies of TTX, BNSF applies the equity method of accounting to its investment in TTX. The investment in TTX recorded under the equity method is recorded in other assets. Equity income or losses are recorded in materials and other in the Consolidated Statements of Income. North American railroads pay TTX car hire to use TTX’s freight equipment to serve their customers. BNSF’s car hire expenditures incurred with TTX are included in the table above. BNSF had $718 million and $703 million recognized as investments related to TTX in its Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

8.Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Other comprehensive income refers to revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that under generally accepted accounting principles are included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of equity within the Consolidated Balance Sheets, rather than net income on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Under existing accounting standards, other comprehensive income may include, among other things, unrecognized gains and losses and prior service credit related to pension and other postretirement benefit plans.

13

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) - (Continued)

The following table provides the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) by component (in millions):

	Pension and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefit Items		Equity Method Investments		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance as of December 31, 2019	$	149	$	(4)	$	145
Other comprehensive income (loss), net before reclassifications	—		1		1
Balance as of March 31, 2020	$	149	$	(3)	$	146
Balance as of December 31, 2020	$	101	$	(3)	$	98
Other comprehensive income (loss), net before reclassifications	—		—		—
Amounts reclassified from AOCI:
Amortization of actuarial lossesa	1		—		1
Balance as of March 31, 2021	$	102	$	(3)	$	99

a     This accumulated other comprehensive income component is included in the computation of net periodic pension and retiree health and welfare costs (see Note 6 for additional details on pensions costs).

9.Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-12 (ASU 2019-12), Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting and disclosure requirements for income taxes by clarifying existing guidance to improve consistency in application of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740. BNSF adopted the standard as of January 1, 2021. Adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures.

14

Item 2.Management’s Narrative Analysis of Results of Operations

Management’s narrative analysis relates to the results of operations of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and its majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, BNSF, Registrant, or Company). The principal operating subsidiary of BNSF is BNSF Railway Company (BNSF Railway) through which BNSF derives substantially all of its revenues. The following narrative analysis should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant economic slowdown that adversely affected the demand for the Company's services in 2020. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are ongoing, and the full extent to which it may impact the Company's business and financial results remain uncertain and will depend on future developments.

The following narrative analysis of results of operations includes a brief discussion of the factors that materially affected the Company’s operating results in the three months ended March 31, 2021, and a comparative analysis to the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Results of Operations

Revenues Summary

The following tables present BNSF’s revenue information by business group:

	Revenues (in millions)				Cars / Units (in thousands)
	Three Months Ended March 31,				Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020		2021	2020
Consumer Products	$	1,890	$	1,765	1,393	1,207
Agricultural Products	1,308		1,144		318	285
Industrial Products	1,226		1,465		399	460
Coal	686		766		339	384
Total freight revenues	5,110		5,140		2,449	2,336
Other revenues	291		277
Total operating revenues	$	5,401	$	5,417

	Average Revenue Per Car / Unit
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Consumer Products	$	1,357	$	1,462
Agricultural Products	4,113		4,014
Industrial Products	3,073		3,185
Coal	2,024		1,995
Total freight revenues	$	2,087	$	2,200

Fuel Surcharges

Freight revenues include both revenue for transportation services and fuel surcharges. Where BNSF’s fuel surcharge program is applied, it is intended to recover BNSF’s incremental fuel costs when fuel prices exceed a threshold fuel price. Fuel surcharges are calculated differently depending on the type of commodity transported. BNSF has two standard fuel surcharge programs – Percent of Revenue and Mileage-Based. In addition, in certain commodities, fuel surcharge is calculated using a fuel price from a time period that can be up to 60 days earlier. In a period of volatile fuel prices or changing customer business mix, changes in fuel expense and fuel surcharge may differ significantly.

15

The following table presents fuel surcharge and fuel expense information (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Fuel expense a	$	550	$	614
Fuel surcharges	$	202	$	273

a  Fuel expense includes locomotive and non-locomotive fuel.

    Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 vs. Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

Revenues

Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2021 were $5.4 billion, a decrease of $16 million, or 0.3% from the three months ended March 31, 2020 due to a 5 percent increase in unit volume offset by a 5 percent decrease in average revenue per car / unit. Revenue amounts also included the following changes between periods:

▪Average revenue per car/unit decreased as a result of business mix changes and lower fuel surcharge revenue due to lower fuel prices.

▪Consumer Products volumes increased due to growth in both international and domestic intermodal shipments driven by increased retail sales and inventory replenishments by retailers, along with increased e-commerce activity. Automotive volumes declined due to production impacts from a global microchip shortage.

▪Agricultural Products volumes increased primarily due to higher grain exports.

▪Industrial Products volumes decreased primarily due to reduced production and demand in the energy sector, which drove lower petroleum products and sand volume. In addition, shipments of chemicals, plastics, and aggregates were lower due to winter storm related impacts to Texas and the U.S. Gulf Coast regions.

▪Coal volumes decreased primarily due to lower utility demand in the early part of the quarter, along with severe winter weather which impacted deliveries.

Expenses

Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021 were $3.5 billion, a decrease of $82 million, or 2 percent, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2020. A significant portion of the decrease is due to the following changes in expenses:

▪Compensation and benefits expense decreased primarily due to fewer employees as a result of improved productivity.

▪Fuel expense decreased primarily due to lower average fuel prices, lower gross ton mile volumes and improved fuel efficiency.

▪Materials and other expenses increased primarily as a result of higher miscellaneous taxes and property taxes.

▪There were no significant changes in purchased services, depreciation and amortization and equipment rents expense.

The effective tax rate was 24.6 percent and 24.9 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

16

Forward-Looking Information

To the extent that statements made by the Company relate to the Company’s future economic performance or business outlook, projections or expectations of financial or operational results, or refer to matters that are not historical facts, such statements are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual performance or results may differ materially. For a discussion of material risks and uncertainties that the Company faces, see the discussion in "Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the following:

•  Economic and industry conditions: material adverse changes in economic or industry conditions, both in the United States and globally; volatility in the capital or credit markets including changes affecting the timely availability and cost of capital; changes in customer demand; effects of adverse economic conditions affecting shippers or BNSF’s supplier base; effects due to more stringent regulatory policies such as the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that could reduce the demand for coal or governmental tariffs or subsidies that could affect the demand for products BNSF hauls; the impact of low natural gas or oil prices on energy-related commodities demand; changes in environmental laws and other laws and regulations that could affect the demand for drilling products and products produced by drilling; changes in prices of fuel and other key materials, the impact of high barriers to entry for prospective new suppliers, and disruptions in supply chains for these materials; competition and consolidation within the transportation industry; and changes in crew availability, labor and benefits costs and labor difficulties, including stoppages affecting either BNSF’s operations or customers’ abilities to deliver goods to BNSF for shipment.

•   Legal, legislative and regulatory factors: developments and changes in laws and regulations, including those affecting train operations, the marketing of services or regulatory restrictions on equipment; the ultimate outcome of shipper and rate claims subject to adjudication; claims, investigations, or litigation alleging violations of the antitrust laws; increased economic regulation of the rail industry through legislative action and revised rules and standards applied by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board in various areas including rates and services; developments in environmental investigations or proceedings with respect to rail operations or current or past ownership or control of real property or properties owned by others impacted by BNSF operations; losses resulting from claims and litigation relating to personal injuries, asbestos, and other occupational diseases; the release of hazardous materials, environmental contamination, and damage to property; regulation, restrictions or caps, or other controls on transportation of energy-related commodities or other operating restrictions that could affect operations or increase costs; the availability of adequate insurance to cover the risks associated with operations; and changes in tax rates and tax laws.

•   Operating factors: changes in operating conditions and costs; operational and other difficulties in implementing positive train control technology, including increased compliance or operational costs or penalties; restrictions on development and expansion plans due to environmental concerns; disruptions to BNSF’s technology network including computer systems and software, such as cybersecurity intrusions, misappropriation of assets or sensitive information, corruption of data or operational disruptions; network congestion, including effects of greater than anticipated demand for transportation services and equipment; as well as pandemics or natural events such as severe weather, fires, floods, and earthquakes or man-made or other disruptions of BNSF’s or other railroads’ operating systems, structures, or equipment including the effects of acts of war or terrorism on the Company’s system or other railroads’ systems or other links in the transportation chain.

The Company cautions against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect its current beliefs and are based on information currently available to it as of the date a forward-looking statement is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs. In the event the Company does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that the Company will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statements.

17

Item 4.Controls and Procedures

Based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that BNSF’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by BNSF in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to BNSF’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Additionally, as of the end of the period covered by this report, BNSF’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that there have been no changes in BNSF’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during BNSF’s first fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, BNSF’s internal control over financial reporting.

18

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC and SUBSIDIARIES

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.Exhibits

		Incorporated by Reference (if applicable)
	Exhibit Number and Description	Form	File Date	File No.	Exhibit
3.1	Certificate of Formation dated November 2, 2009.	8-K	2/16/2010	001-11535	3.1
3.2	Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC, dated February 12, 2010, as amended by the Written Consent of the Sole Member, dated April 8, 2010, and as further amended by the Written Consent of the Sole Member, dated January 1, 2021.	10-K	3/1/2021	001-11535	3.2
4.1	Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 6, 2021, to Indenture dated as of December 1, 1995, between Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.	8-K	4/6/2021	001-11535	4.1
4.2	Certificate of Determination as to the terms of BNSF’s 3.300% Debentures due September 15, 2051.	8-K	4/6/2021	001-11535	4.2
31.1	Principal Executive Officer’s Certifications Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
31.2	Principal Financial Officer’s Certifications Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
32.1	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).*
101	The following unaudited information from Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC’s Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2021 formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL) includes: (i) the Cover Page, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, (iv) the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, (vi) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, and (vii) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. *
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

Certain instruments evidencing long-term indebtedness of BNSF are not being filed as exhibits to this report because the total amount of securities authorized under any single instrument does not exceed 10 percent of BNSF’s total assets. BNSF will furnish copies of any material instruments upon request of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

__________________

* Filed herewith

19

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC (Registrant)
By:	/s/    Julie A. Piggott
	Julie A. Piggott Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (On behalf of the Registrant and as principal financial officer)

Date:  May 3, 2021

S-1

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

Principal Executive Officer’s Certifications

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Kathryn M. Farmer, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.    The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.    The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 3, 2021

/s/ Kathryn M. Farmer

Kathryn M. Farmer

President and

Chief Executive Officer

E-1

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

Principal Financial Officer’s Certifications

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Julie A. Piggott, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.    The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.    The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 3, 2021

/s/ Julie A. Piggott

Julie A. Piggott

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

E-2

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350

(Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)

Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Kathryn M. Farmer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Julie A. Piggott, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby certifies that, to her knowledge on the date hereof:

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: May 3, 2021

/s/ Kathryn M. Farmer	/s/ Julie A. Piggott
Kathryn M. Farmer	Julie A. Piggott
President and Chief Executive Officer	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and will be retained by Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

E-3

XML

Cover Page - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	May 03, 2021
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-11535
Entity Registrant Name	BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC
Entity Incorporation, State Country Name	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	27-1754839
Entity Address, Address Line One	2650 Lou Menk Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Fort Worth
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	76131
City Area Code	800
Local Phone Number	795-2673
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Central Index Key	0000934612
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		0

XML

Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 5,401	$ 5,417
Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits	1,183	1,244
Purchased services	665	666
Depreciation and amortization	619	615
Fuel	550	614
Equipment rents	171	165
Materials and other	324	290
Total operating expenses	3,512	3,594
Operating income	1,889	1,823
Interest expense	258	262
Other (income) expense, net	(28)	(23)
Income before income taxes	1,659	1,584
Income tax expense	408	394
Net income	$ 1,251	$ 1,190

XML

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 1,251	$ 1,190
Other comprehensive income:
Change in pension and retiree health and welfare benefits, net of tax	1	0
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) of equity method investees	0	1
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1	1
Total comprehensive income	$ 1,252	$ 1,191

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,951	$ 1,986
Accounts receivable, net	1,291	1,243
Materials and supplies	852	803
Other current assets	127	91
Total current assets	4,221	4,123
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $13,687 and $13,175, respectively	65,042	65,088
Goodwill	14,851	14,851
Operating lease right-of-use assets	1,840	1,928
Other assets	2,719	2,670
Total assets	88,673	88,660
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	3,700	3,434
Long-term debt and finance leases due within one year	1,338	917
Total current liabilities	5,038	4,351
Long-term debt and finance leases	21,478	22,303
Deferred income taxes	14,686	14,626
Operating lease liabilities	1,143	1,286
Casualty and environmental liabilities	435	428
Pension and retiree health and welfare liability	310	314
Other liabilities	1,327	1,348
Total liabilities	44,417	44,656
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 5)
Equity:
Member’s equity	44,157	43,906
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	99	98
Total equity	44,256	44,004
Total liabilities and equity	$ 88,673	$ 88,660

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accumulated depreciation	$ 13,687	$ 13,175

XML

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 1,251	$ 1,190
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	619	615
Deferred income taxes	58	87
Long-term casualty and environmental liabilities, net	7	(15)
Other, net	(69)	(122)
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(48)	2
Materials and supplies	(49)	54
Other current assets	(32)	(10)
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	219	(52)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,956	1,749
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures excluding equipment	(530)	(650)
Acquisition of equipment	(26)	(37)
Proceeds from sales of investments and maturities of time deposits	1	13
Other, net	(29)	(56)
Net cash used in investing activities	(584)	(730)
Financing Activities
Payments on long-term debt and finance leases	(407)	(51)
Cash distributions	(1,000)	(1,100)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,407)	(1,151)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(35)	(132)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period	1,986	1,984
End of period	1,951	1,852
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	300	305
Capital investments accrued but not yet paid	129	145
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	7	3
Non-cash asset financing	$ 4	$ 6

XML

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Member’s Equity	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 43,720	$ 43,575	$ 145
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash distributions	(1,100)	(1,100)	0
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,191	1,190	1
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	43,811	43,665	146
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	44,004	43,906	98
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash distributions	(1,000)	(1,000)	0
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,252	1,251	1
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 44,256	$ 44,157	$ 99

XML

Accounting Policies and Interim Results

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Accounting Policies and Interim Results

Accounting Policies and Interim Results

The Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, including the financial statements and notes thereto. Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC (BNSF) is a holding company that conducts no operating activities and owns no significant assets other than through its interests in its subsidiaries. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of BNSF and its majority-owned subsidiaries, all of which are separate legal entities (collectively, the Company). BNSF’s principal operating subsidiary is BNSF Railway Company (BNSF Railway). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

On February 12, 2010, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a Delaware corporation (Berkshire), acquired 100 percent of the outstanding shares of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation common stock that it did not already own. The acquisition was completed through the merger (Merger) of a Berkshire wholly-owned merger subsidiary and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation with the surviving entity renamed Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC. Earnings per share data is not presented because BNSF has only one holder of its membership interests.

The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the entire year. In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, except as disclosed) necessary for the fair statement of BNSF’s consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2021, and the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

XML

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenue from Contract with Customer

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Company disaggregates revenue from contracts with customers based on the characteristics of the services provided and the types of products transported (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Consumer Products	$	1,890	$	1,765
Agricultural Products	1,308		1,144
Industrial Products	1,226		1,465
Coal	686		766
Total freight revenues	5,110		5,140
Non-rail logistics subsidiary	180		173
Accessorial and other	111		104
Total other revenues	291		277
Total operating revenues	$	5,401	$	5,417

Contract assets and liabilities are immaterial. Receivables from contracts with customers is a component of accounts receivable, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, $1.1 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively, represented net receivables from contracts with customers.

Remaining performance obligations primarily consist of in-transit freight revenues, which will be recognized in the next reporting period. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, remaining performance obligations were $260 million and $204 million, respectively.

XML

Accounts Receivable, Net

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Receivables [Abstract]

Accounts Receivable, Net

Accounts Receivable, Net

Accounts receivable, net consists of freight and other receivables, reduced by an allowance for credit losses which is based upon expected collectability. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, $47 million and $54 million, respectively, of such allowance had been recorded.

XML

Debt

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

Debt

Notes and Debentures

As of March 31, 2021, $1.1 billion remained authorized by the Board of Directors to be issued through the Securities and Exchange Commission debt shelf offering process.

The Company is required to maintain certain financial covenants in conjunction with $500 million of certain issued and outstanding junior subordinated notes. As of March 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with these financial covenants.

Subsequent Event

In April 2021, BNSF issued $925 million of 3.30 percent debentures due September 15, 2051. The net proceeds from the sale of the debentures will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include but are not limited to working capital, capital expenditures, repayment of outstanding indebtedness and distributions.

Fair Value of Debt Instruments

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the fair value of BNSF’s debt, excluding finance leases, was $26.6 billion and $29.3 billion, respectively, while the book value, which also excludes finance leases, was $22.6 billion and $22.9 billion, respectively. The fair value of BNSF’s debt is primarily based on market value price models using observable market-based data for the same or similar issues, or on the estimated rates that would be offered to BNSF for debt of the same remaining maturities (Level 2 inputs).

Guarantees 

As of March 31, 2021, BNSF has not been called upon to perform under the guarantees specifically disclosed in this footnote and does not anticipate a significant performance risk in the foreseeable future.

Debt and other obligations of non-consolidated entities guaranteed by the Company as of March 31, 2021, were as follows (dollars in millions):

	Guarantees
	BNSF Ownership Percentage		Principal Amount Guaranteed		Maximum Future Payments		Maximum Recourse Amounta		Remaining Term (in years)	Capitalized Obligations
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.	0.5	%	$	190	$	190	$	—	Termination of Ownership	$	2	b
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP	—	%	N/Ad		N/Ad		N/Ad		6	$	13	c

aReflects the maximum amount the Company could recover from a third party other than the counterparty.

bReflects capitalized obligations that are recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

cReflects the asset and corresponding liability for the fair value of these guarantees required by authoritative accounting guidance related to guarantees.

dThere is no cap to the liability that can be sought from BNSF for BNSF’s negligence or the negligence of the indemnified party. However, BNSF could receive reimbursement from certain insurance policies if the liability exceeds a certain amount.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.

Santa Fe Pacific Pipelines, Inc., an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BNSF, has a guarantee in connection with its remaining special limited partnership interest in Santa Fe Pacific Pipeline Partners, L.P. (SFPP), a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., to be paid only upon default by the partnership. All obligations with respect to the guarantee will cease upon termination of ownership rights, which would occur upon a put notice issued by BNSF or the exercise of the call rights by the general partners of SFPP.

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP

BNSF has an indemnity agreement with Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP (Chevron Phillips), granting certain rights of indemnity from BNSF, in order to facilitate access to a storage facility. Under certain circumstances, payment under this obligation may be required in the event Chevron Phillips were to incur certain liabilities or other incremental costs resulting from trackage access.

Indemnities

In the ordinary course of business, BNSF enters into agreements with third parties that include indemnification clauses. The Company believes that these clauses are generally customary for the types of agreements in which they are included. At times, these clauses may involve indemnification for the acts of the Company, its employees and agents, indemnification for another party’s acts, indemnification for future events, indemnification based upon a certain standard of performance, indemnification for liabilities arising out of the Company’s use of leased equipment or other property, or other types of indemnification. Despite the uncertainty whether events which would trigger the indemnification obligations would ever occur, the Company does not believe that these indemnity agreements will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. Additionally, the Company believes that, due to lack of historical payment experience, the fair value of indemnities cannot be estimated with any amount of certainty and that the fair value of any such amount would be immaterial to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Unless separately disclosed above, no fair value liability related to indemnities has been recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Personal Injury

BNSF’s personal injury liability includes the cost of claims for employee work-related injuries, third-party claims, and asbestos claims. BNSF records a liability for asserted and unasserted claims when the expected loss is both probable and reasonably estimable. Because of the uncertainty of the timing of future payments, the liability is undiscounted. Defense and processing costs, which are recorded on an as-reported basis, are not included in the recorded liability. Expense accruals and adjustments are classified as materials and other in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Personal injury claims by BNSF Railway employees are subject to the provisions of the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) rather than state workers’ compensation laws. Resolution of these cases under the FELA’s fault-based system requires either a finding of fault by a jury or an out of court settlement. Third-party claims include claims by non-employees for compensatory damages and may, from time to time, include requests for punitive damages or treatment of the claim as a class action.

BNSF estimates its personal injury liability claims and expense using standard actuarial methodologies based on the covered population, activity levels and trends in frequency, and the costs of covered injuries. The Company monitors actual experience against the forecasted number of claims to be received, the forecasted number of claims closing with payment, and expected claim payments and records adjustments as new events or changes in estimates develop.

BNSF is party to asbestos claims by employees and non-employees who may have been exposed to asbestos. Because of the relatively finite exposed population, the Company has recorded an estimate for the full amount of probable exposure. This is determined through an actuarial analysis based on estimates of the exposed population, the number of claims likely to be filed, the number of claims that will likely require payment, and the cost per claim. Estimated filing and dismissal rates and average cost per claim are determined utilizing recent claim data and trends.

The following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s accrued obligations for personal injury claims (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	273	$	275
Accruals / changes in estimates	17		11
Payments	(6)		(22)
Ending balance	$	284	$	264
Current portion of ending balance	$	75	$	70

The amount recorded by the Company for the personal injury liability is based upon the best information currently available. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the ultimate outcome of personal injury claims, it is reasonably possible that future costs to resolve these claims may be different from the recorded amounts. The Company estimates that costs to resolve the liability may range from approximately $245 million to $340 million.

Although the final outcome of these personal injury matters cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of BNSF that none of these items, when finally resolved, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or liquidity. However, the occurrence of a number of these items in the same period could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations in a particular quarter or fiscal year.

Environmental

BNSF is subject to extensive federal, state, and local environmental regulation. The Company’s operating procedures include practices to protect the environment from the risks inherent in railroad operations, which frequently involve transporting chemicals and other hazardous materials. Additionally, many of BNSF’s land holdings are or have been used for industrial or transportation-related purposes or leased to commercial or industrial companies whose activities may have resulted in discharges onto the property. Under federal (in particular, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) and state statutes, the Company may be held jointly and severally liable for cleanup and enforcement costs associated with a particular site without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct. The Company participates in the study, cleanup, or both of environmental contamination at approximately 200 sites.

Environmental costs may include, but are not limited to, site investigations, remediation, and restoration. The liability is recorded when the expected loss is both probable and reasonably estimable and is undiscounted due to uncertainty of the timing of future payments. Expense accruals and adjustments are classified as materials and other in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

BNSF estimates the cost of cleanup efforts at its known environmental sites based on experience gained from cleanup efforts at similar sites, estimated percentage to closure ratios, possible remediation work plans, estimates of the costs and likelihood of each possible outcome, historical payment patterns, and benchmark patterns developed from data accumulated from industry and public sources. The Company monitors actual experience against expectations and records adjustments as new events or changes in estimates develop.

The following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s accrued obligations for environmental costs (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	265	$	282
Accruals / changes in estimates	1		1
Payments	(5)		(5)
Ending balance	$	261	$	278
Current portion of ending balance	$	35	$	40

The amount recorded by the Company for the environmental liability is based upon the best information currently available. It has not been reduced by anticipated recoveries from third parties and includes both asserted and unasserted claims. BNSF’s total cleanup costs at these sites cannot be predicted with certainty due to various factors, such as the extent of corrective actions that may be required, evolving environmental laws and regulations, advances in environmental technology, the extent of other parties’ participation in cleanup efforts, developments in ongoing environmental analyses related to sites determined to be contaminated, and developments in environmental surveys and studies of contaminated sites. Because of the uncertainty surrounding various factors, it is reasonably possible that future costs to settle these claims may be different from the recorded amounts. The Company estimates that costs to settle the liability may range from approximately $215 million to $350 million.

Although the final outcome of these environmental matters cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of BNSF that none of these items, when finally resolved, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or liquidity. However, the occurrence of a number of these items in the same period could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations in a particular quarter or fiscal year.

Other Claims and Litigation

In addition to personal injury and environmental matters, BNSF and its subsidiaries are also parties to a number of other legal actions and claims, governmental proceedings, and private civil suits arising in the ordinary course of business, including those related to disputes and complaints involving certain transportation rates and charges. Some of the legal proceedings include claims for compensatory damages and may, from time to time, include requests for punitive damages or treatment of the claim as a class action. Although the final outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of BNSF that none of these items, when finally resolved, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or liquidity. However, the occurrence of a number of these items in the same period could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations in a particular quarter or fiscal year.

BNSF Insurance Company

BNSF has a consolidated, wholly-owned subsidiary, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Insurance Company, Ltd. (BNSFIC), that offers insurance coverage for certain risks, including FELA claims, railroad protective and force account insurance claims, certain excess general liability and property coverage, and certain other claims which are subject to reinsurance. BNSFIC has entered into annual reinsurance treaty agreements with several other companies. The treaty agreements insure workers’ compensation, general liability, auto liability, and FELA risk. In accordance with the agreements, BNSFIC cedes a portion of its FELA exposure through the treaties and assumes a proportionate share of the entire risk. Each year, BNSFIC reviews the objectives and performance of the treaties to determine its continued participation. The treaty agreements provide for certain protections against the risk of treaty participants’ non-performance. On an ongoing basis, BNSF and/or the treaty manager reviews the creditworthiness of each of the participants. The Company does not believe its exposure to treaty participants’ non-performance is material at this time. BNSFIC typically invests in time deposits, money market accounts, and treasuries. As of both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there was $548 million related to these third-party investments, which were classified as cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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Employment Benefit Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Employment Benefit Plans

Employment Benefit Plans

BNSF provides a funded, noncontributory qualified pension plan (BNSF Retirement Plan), which covers most non-union employees, and an unfunded non-tax-qualified pension plan (BNSF Supplemental Retirement Plan), which covers certain officers and other employees. The benefits under these pension plans are based on years of credited service and the highest consecutive sixty months of compensation for the last ten years of salaried employment with the Company. In 2019, the Company amended the BNSF Retirement Plan and the BNSF Supplemental Retirement Plan. Non-union employees hired on or after April 1, 2019 are not eligible to participate in these retirement plans and instead receive an additional employer contribution as part of the qualified 401(k) plan based on the employees’ age and years of service. Current plan participants are being transitioned away from the retirement plans and upon transition are eligible for the additional employer contribution.

BNSF also provides a funded, noncontributory qualified pension plan which covers certain union employees of the former The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company (Union Plan). The benefits under this pension plan are based on elections made at the time the plan was implemented.

With respect to the funded plans, the Company's funding policy is to contribute annually not less than the regulatory minimum and not more than the maximum amount deductible for income tax purposes. The BNSF Retirement Plan, the BNSF Supplemental Retirement Plan, and the Union Plan are collectively referred to herein as the Pension Plans.

Components of the net (benefit) cost for the Pension Plans were as follows (in millions):

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Service cost	$	6	$	5
Interest cost	14		18
Expected return on plan assets	(44)		(42)
Net (benefit) cost recognized	$	(24)	$	(19)

Service cost is included in compensation and benefits expense and the other components of net periodic benefit costs are included in other (income) expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

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Related Party Transactions

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions

The companies identified as affiliates of BNSF include Berkshire and its subsidiaries. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company declared and paid cash distributions of $1.0 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively, to Berkshire. In both of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company made tax payments of less than $1 million to Berkshire. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had a tax payable to Berkshire of $360 million and $70 million, respectively.

BNSF engages in various transactions with related parties in the ordinary course of business. The following table summarizes revenues earned by BNSF for services provided to related parties and expenditures to related parties (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Revenues	$	23	$	37
Expenditures	$	97	$	93

BNSF owns 17.3 percent of TTX Company (TTX) while other North American railroads own the remaining interest. As BNSF possesses the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the operating and financial policies of TTX, BNSF applies the equity method of accounting to its investment in TTX. The investment in TTX recorded under the equity method is recorded in other assets. Equity income or losses are recorded in materials and other in the Consolidated Statements of Income. North American railroads pay TTX car hire to use TTX’s freight equipment to serve their customers. BNSF’s car hire expenditures incurred with TTX are included in the table above. BNSF had $718 million and $703 million recognized as investments related to TTX in its Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Other comprehensive income refers to revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that under generally accepted accounting principles are included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of equity within the Consolidated Balance Sheets, rather than net income on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Under existing accounting standards, other comprehensive income may include, among other things, unrecognized gains and losses and prior service credit related to pension and other postretirement benefit plans.

The following table provides the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) by component (in millions):

	Pension and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefit Items		Equity Method Investments		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance as of December 31, 2019	$	149	$	(4)	$	145
Other comprehensive income (loss), net before reclassifications	—		1		1
Balance as of March 31, 2020	$	149	$	(3)	$	146
Balance as of December 31, 2020	$	101	$	(3)	$	98
Other comprehensive income (loss), net before reclassifications	—		—		—
Amounts reclassified from AOCI:
Amortization of actuarial lossesa	1		—		1
Balance as of March 31, 2021	$	102	$	(3)	$	99

a     This accumulated other comprehensive income component is included in the computation of net periodic pension and retiree health and welfare costs (see Note 6 for additional details on pensions costs).

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Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Accounting Standards Update and Change in Accounting Principle [Abstract]
Accounting Pronouncements	Accounting PronouncementsIn December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-12 (ASU 2019-12), Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting and disclosure requirements for income taxes by clarifying existing guidance to improve consistency in application of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740. BNSF adopted the standard as of January 1, 2021. Adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures.

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Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Disaggregation of Revenue

The Company disaggregates revenue from contracts with customers based on the characteristics of the services provided and the types of products transported (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Consumer Products	$	1,890	$	1,765
Agricultural Products	1,308		1,144
Industrial Products	1,226		1,465
Coal	686		766
Total freight revenues	5,110		5,140
Non-rail logistics subsidiary	180		173
Accessorial and other	111		104
Total other revenues	291		277
Total operating revenues	$	5,401	$	5,417

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Debt (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Guarantor Obligations

Debt and other obligations of non-consolidated entities guaranteed by the Company as of March 31, 2021, were as follows (dollars in millions):

	Guarantees
	BNSF Ownership Percentage		Principal Amount Guaranteed		Maximum Future Payments		Maximum Recourse Amounta		Remaining Term (in years)	Capitalized Obligations
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.	0.5	%	$	190	$	190	$	—	Termination of Ownership	$	2	b
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP	—	%	N/Ad		N/Ad		N/Ad		6	$	13	c

aReflects the maximum amount the Company could recover from a third party other than the counterparty.

bReflects capitalized obligations that are recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

cReflects the asset and corresponding liability for the fair value of these guarantees required by authoritative accounting guidance related to guarantees.

dThere is no cap to the liability that can be sought from BNSF for BNSF’s negligence or the negligence of the indemnified party. However, BNSF could receive reimbursement from certain insurance policies if the liability exceeds a certain amount.

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Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Loss Contingencies by Contingency

The following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s accrued obligations for personal injury claims (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	273	$	275
Accruals / changes in estimates	17		11
Payments	(6)		(22)
Ending balance	$	284	$	264
Current portion of ending balance	$	75	$	70

Accrued Obligations for Environmental Matters

The following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s accrued obligations for environmental costs (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	265	$	282
Accruals / changes in estimates	1		1
Payments	(5)		(5)
Ending balance	$	261	$	278
Current portion of ending balance	$	35	$	40

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Employment Benefit Plans (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs

Components of the net (benefit) cost for the Pension Plans were as follows (in millions):

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Service cost	$	6	$	5
Interest cost	14		18
Expected return on plan assets	(44)		(42)
Net (benefit) cost recognized	$	(24)	$	(19)

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Related Party Transactions (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Schedule of Related Party Transactions

The following table summarizes revenues earned by BNSF for services provided to related parties and expenditures to related parties (in millions):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Revenues	$	23	$	37
Expenditures	$	97	$	93

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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table provides the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) by component (in millions):

	Pension and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefit Items		Equity Method Investments		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance as of December 31, 2019	$	149	$	(4)	$	145
Other comprehensive income (loss), net before reclassifications	—		1		1
Balance as of March 31, 2020	$	149	$	(3)	$	146
Balance as of December 31, 2020	$	101	$	(3)	$	98
Other comprehensive income (loss), net before reclassifications	—		—		—
Amounts reclassified from AOCI:
Amortization of actuarial lossesa	1		—		1
Balance as of March 31, 2021	$	102	$	(3)	$	99

a     This accumulated other comprehensive income component is included in the computation of net periodic pension and retiree health and welfare costs (see Note 6 for additional details on pensions costs).

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Accounting Policies and Interim Results (Details) - Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation	Mar. 31, 2021	Feb. 12, 2010
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired remaining outstanding shares, percentage		100.00%
Holders of membership interests	1

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Revenue from Contracts with Customers Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 5,401	$ 5,417
Total freight revenues	5,110	5,140
Total other revenues	291	277
Consumer Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,890	1,765
Agricultural Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,308	1,144
Industrial Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,226	1,465
Coal
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	686	766
Non-rail logistics subsidiary
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	180	173
Accessorial and other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 111	$ 104

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Revenue from Contracts with Customers Disclosure of contract asset and liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Net receivables from contracts with customers	$ 1.1	$ 1.0

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Revenue from Contracts with Customers Remaining performance obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Remaining performance obligations	$ 260	$ 204

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Accounts Receivable, Net Allowance for Credit Losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Receivables [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowance for credit loss	$ 47	$ 54

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Debt Notes and Debentures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Apr. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021
SEC Debt Shelf Registration
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Remaining Debt Securities Authorized by the Board		$ 1,100
Junior Subordinated Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subordinated notes related to financial covenants		$ 500
Three Point Three Zero Percent Due September 15, 2051 | Corporate Debt Securities | Subsequent Event
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issuance, face amount	$ 925
Debt instrument, stated interest rate	3.30%

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Debt Fair Value of Debt Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Fair value of debt excluding capital leases and unamortized gains on interest rate swaps	$ 26.6	$ 29.3
Book value of debt excluding capital leases, the associated unamortized fair value adjustment and unamortized gains on interest rate swaps	$ 22.6	$ 22.9

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Debt Guarantees (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. | Payment Guarantee
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Principal Amount Guaranteed	$ 190
Maximum Future Payments	190
Maximum Recourse Amount	0
Capitalized Obligations	$ 2
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP | Indemnification Agreement
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Remaining Term (in years)	6 years
Capitalized Obligations	$ 13
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. | Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. | Payment Guarantee
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
BNSF Ownership Percentage	0.50%
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP | Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP | Indemnification Agreement
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
BNSF Ownership Percentage	0.00%

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Commitments and Contingencies Personal Injury (Details) - Personal Injury - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 273	$ 275
Accruals / changes in estimates	17	11
Payments	(6)	(22)
Ending balance	284	264
Current portion of ending balance	75	$ 70
Minimum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, estimate of possible loss	245
Maximum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, estimate of possible loss	$ 340

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Commitments and Contingencies Environmental (Details) - Environmental Issue $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) sites	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of alleged environmental contamination sites | sites	200
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 265	$ 282
Accruals / changes in estimates	1	1
Payments	(5)	(5)
Ending balance	261	278
Current portion of ending balance	35	$ 40
Minimum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Future costs to settle claims and associated liability	215
Maximum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Future costs to settle claims and associated liability	$ 350

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Commitments and Contingencies Insurance (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,951	$ 1,986
Commercial Paper, Bank Time Deposits, and Money Market Funds | BNSF Insurance Company
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 548

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Employment Benefit Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of months for highest consecutive compensation	60 months
Total number of years of salaried employees to qualify for pension plans	10 years
Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 6	$ 5
Interest cost	14	18
Expected return on plan assets	(44)	(42)
Net cost recognized	$ (24)	$ (19)

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Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash distributions	$ 1,000	$ 1,100
Related Party Transaction Revenue with Affiliates	23	37
Related Party Transaction Expenditures from Transactions with Related Party	$ 97	93
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage in TTX Company	17.30%
Equity Method Investments	$ 718		$ 703
Parent Company
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash distributions	1,000	$ 1,100
Tax payments to parent company	1
Accounts Payable, Related Parties	$ 360		$ 70

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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income AOCI by Component (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Net of Tax, Period Change [Abstract]
Beginning Balance	$ 98	$ 145
Other comprehensive income (loss), net before reclassifications	0	1
Ending Balance	99	146
Equity Method Investments
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Net of Tax, Period Change [Abstract]
Beginning Balance	(3)	(4)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net before reclassifications	0	1
Ending Balance	(3)	(3)
Pension and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefit Items
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Net of Tax, Period Change [Abstract]
Beginning Balance	101	149
Other comprehensive income (loss), net before reclassifications	0	0
Ending Balance	102	$ 149
Amortization of net gain
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Net of Tax, Period Change [Abstract]
Reclassification from AOCI, Before Tax	1
Amortization of net gain | Equity Method Investments
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Net of Tax, Period Change [Abstract]
Reclassification from AOCI, Before Tax	0
Amortization of net gain | Pension and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefit Items
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Net of Tax, Period Change [Abstract]
Reclassification from AOCI, Before Tax	$ 1