BNSF CEO meets Galesburg employees

Talk of future projects reveals nothing final

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

By MIKE LANDIS

The Register-Mail

GALESBURG - Employees with the BNSF Railway's Galesburg classification yard had an opportunity to quiz the company's man in charge Tuesday morning.

Matt Rose, BNSF Railway's CEO, was in Galesburg and presided over a meeting for employees at the Orpheum Theatre.

According to Steve Forsberg, BNSF general director of public affairs for Galesburg's region, Rose conducts several meetings with employees on a quarterly basis to provide a "state-of-the-railroad" outlook and give them an opportunity to ask questions of him and other senior managers.

"He gives everybody an opportunity to see what direction the company is going," said Rick Danielson, terminal superintendent for the Galesburg yard.

Danielson said Rose addressed issues such as traffic, track maintenance and hiring at Tuesday's gathering. He also lauded the Galesburg workers for their safety record, and referenced last year's track improvement project and the upcoming diesel shop expansion.

Danielson said several employees asked Rose about future projects and how Galesburg fits into the BNSF picture. Rose replied, according to Danielson, that some projects are being talked about at the "blue-sky level," but nothing has been finalized.

"Galesburg is strategically located for the company," said Danielson, noting Galesburg touches all of BNSF's traffic. "We are important for BNSF. We look forward to hiring new people as we move along and grow the company."

Galesburg was part of a whirlwind Tuesday for Rose. His day started with a flight from Fort Worth, Texas, to Galesburg for what the company calls a "town hall meeting." After Galesburg, he caught a flight for another meeting with employees in Springfield, Mo., and returned to the company's headquarters in Fort Worth.