1.0.0.3 false Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions false 3 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 false 4 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 5 OPERATING ACTIVITIES 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 6 Net income 4 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 1185000000 1185 false false 2 true true 1500000000 1500 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: 4 us-gaap_AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 8 Depreciation and amortization 5 us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1135000000 1135 false false 2 false true 1039000000 1039 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Deferred income taxes 5 us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 458000000 458 false false 2 false true 248000000 248 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Employee separation costs paid 5 bni_EmployeeSeparationCostsPaid bni false debit duration monetary The amount of cash paid during the reporting period related to deferred benefits payable upon separation or retirement of... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -10000000 -10 false false 2 false true -11000000 -11 false false The amount of cash paid during the reporting period related to deferred benefits payable upon separation or retirement of certain active employees incurred in connection with labor agreements reached prior to a business combination and severance costs for certain union and non union employees No authoritative reference available. false 11 Long-term casualty and environmental liabilities, net 5 bni_LongTermCasualtyAndEnvironmentalLiabilitiesNet bni false debit duration monetary The net change during the reporting period in the amount of noncurrent costs accrued for casualty, environmental and other... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -31000000 -31 false false 2 false true 181000000 181 false false The net change during the reporting period in the amount of noncurrent costs accrued for casualty, environmental and other loss contingencies. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Other, net 5 bni_OtherNet bni false credit duration monetary The net cash inflow (outflow) from other operating activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 26000000 26 false false 2 false true 50000000 50 false false The net cash inflow (outflow) from other operating activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element in the taxonomy. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Changes in current assets and liabilities: 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapitalAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 14 Accounts receivable, net 6 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 50000000 50 false false 2 false true -108000000 -108 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Change in accounts receivables sales program 6 bni_ChangeInAccountsReceivableSalesProgram bni false credit duration monetary The change during the reporting period in the amount of outstanding undivided interests held by investors under the Accounts... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -50000000 -50 false false 2 false true 278000000 278 false false The change during the reporting period in the amount of outstanding undivided interests held by investors under the Accounts Receivable sales program. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Materials and supplies 6 bni_IncreaseDecreaseInMaterialsAndSupplies bni false credit duration monetary The net change during the reporting period in the aggregate value of all materials and supplies held by the reporting entity,... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2000000 2 false false 2 false true -47000000 -47 false false The net change during the reporting period in the aggregate value of all materials and supplies held by the reporting entity, associated with underlying transactions that are classified as operating activities. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Other current assets 6 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -91000000 -91 false false 2 false true -142000000 -142 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Accounts payable and other current liabilities 6 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -36000000 -36 false false 2 false true 315000000 315 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 19 Net cash provided by operating activities 5 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2638000000 2638 false false 2 false true 3303000000 3303 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 20 INVESTING ACTIVITIES 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 21 Capital expenditures excluding equipment 4 bni_CapitalExpendituresExcludingEquipment bni false credit duration monetary The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets, excluding equipment, that are used in the... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1669000000 -1669 false false 2 false true -1704000000 -1704 false false The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets, excluding equipment, that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Acquisition of equipment 4 bni_AcquisitionOfEquipment bni false credit duration monetary The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of equipment which includes locomotive, freight cars and other equipment,... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -615000000 -615 false false 2 false true -676000000 -676 false false The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of equipment which includes locomotive, freight cars and other equipment, some or all of which may be sold and leased back by the Company through either an operating or capital lease. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Proceeds from sale of equipment financed 4 us-gaap_SaleLeasebackTransactionGrossProceeds us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 368000000 368 false false 2 false true 190000000 190 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 24 Construction costs for facility financing obligation 4 bni_ConstructionCostsForFacilityFinancingObligation bni false credit duration monetary Payments for construction costs of a facility that the Company intends to sell to a third party and subsequently lease back. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -36000000 -36 false false 2 false true -38000000 -38 false false Payments for construction costs of a facility that the Company intends to sell to a third party and subsequently lease back. No authoritative reference available. false 25 Other, net 4 us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -167000000 -167 false false 2 false true -153000000 -153 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 26 Net cash used for investing activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -2119000000 -2119 false false 2 false true -2381000000 -2381 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 27 FINANCING ACTIVITIES 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 28 Net decrease in commercial paper and bank borrowings 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -100000000 -100 false false 2 false true -261000000 -261 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 29 Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 825000000 825 false false 2 false true 650000000 650 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 30 Payments on long-term debt 4 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -373000000 -373 false false 2 false true -174000000 -174 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 31 Dividends paid 4 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -409000000 -409 false false 2 false true -334000000 -334 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 32 Proceeds from stock options exercised 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 26000000 26 false false 2 false true 87000000 87 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 33 Purchase of BNSF common stock 4 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -15000000 -15 false false 2 false true -878000000 -878 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 34 Excess tax benefits from equity compensation plans 4 us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 18000000 18 false false 2 false true 90000000 90 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 35 Proceeds from facility financing obligation 4 bni_ProceedsFromFacilityFinancingObligation bni false debit duration monetary Proceeds from the financing related to the construction of a facility that the Company intends to sell to a third party and... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 51000000 51 false false 2 false true 50000000 50 false false Proceeds from the financing related to the construction of a facility that the Company intends to sell to a third party and subsequently lease back. No authoritative reference available. false 36 Other, net 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -14000000 -14 false false 2 false true -6000000 -6 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 37 Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 9000000 9 false false 2 false true -776000000 -776 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 38 Increase in cash and cash equivalents 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 528000000 528 false false 2 false true 146000000 146 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 39 Cash and cash equivalents: 3 bni_CashAndCashEquivalentsAbstract bni false na duration string Cash and cash equivalents. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false Cash and cash equivalents. false 40 Beginning of period 4 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false true 633000000 633 false false 2 false true 330000000 330 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 41 End of period 4 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true 1161000000 1161 false false 2 false true 476000000 476 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 42 SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION 3 us-gaap_SupplementalCashFlowInformationAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 43 Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized 4 us-gaap_InterestPaidNet us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 463000000 463 false false 2 false true 406000000 406 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 44 Income taxes paid, net of refunds 4 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 170000000 170 false false 2 false true 565000000 565 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 45 Non-cash asset financing 4 us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 464000000 464 false false 2 true true 79000000 79 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true false 2 41 false Millions UnKnown UnKnown false true