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Burlington Northern Santa Fe Reports Record Second-Quarter EPS

   BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE LOGO
Burlington Northern Santa Fe logo. (PRNewsFoto)[JL]
FORT WORTH, TX USA
     - Second-quarter 2004 earnings were $0.67 per share, or 24 percent
       higher, than second-quarter 2003 earnings of $0.54 per share.

     - Freight revenues increased 17 percent, year-over-year, to an all-time
       quarterly record of $2.64 billion.  Of the 17 percent increase,
       2 percent is being driven by fuel surcharges.

     - Operating income of $508 million increased $96 million, or 23 percent,
       compared with the same period in 2003.

    FORT WORTH, Texas, July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Burlington Northern
Santa Fe Corporation (NYSE: BNI) (BNSF) today reported record second-quarter
2004 earnings of $0.67 per share, a 24 percent increase over second-quarter
2003 earnings of $0.54 per share.
    "Record all-time volumes coupled with a 2-percent average price increase
contributed to our third consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth,"
said Matthew K. Rose, BNSF Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.
"We are pleased with the record second-quarter earnings and freight revenues.
As we move toward fall peak season, our equipment availability and crew
capacity should enable us to maintain network fluidity and handle forecasted
volume growth."
    Second-quarter 2004 freight revenues increased $374 million, or
17 percent, to $2.64 billion compared with 2003 second-quarter revenues of
$2.26 billion.  Of the 17 percent increase, 2 percent is being driven by fuel
surcharges.  Consumer Products revenues reached $1 billion for the first time
as a result of a 12-percent increase in volumes in the international
intermodal sector and a 17-percent volume increase in the truckload sector.
Agricultural Products revenues were up $107 million, or 34 percent, due to
increased corn and wheat exports.  Industrial Products revenues increased
$89 million, or 17 percent, to an all-time quarterly record of $620 million
reflecting strong demand in the construction products, building products,
petroleum products, and chemical and plastics sectors.  Coal revenues rose
$49 million, or 10 percent, to $553 million driven by record second-quarter
volumes both from new and existing customers.
    Operating expenses of $2.18 billion were $295 million, or 16 percent,
higher than the same period in 2003.  The increase in operating expenses was
partially driven by a 13-percent increase in gross ton-miles and higher fuel
prices.  Additionally, operating expenses included approximately $30 million
of environmental expenses due to developments at two former fueling facility
sites.
    Second-quarter operating income increased $96 million, or 23 percent,
year-over-year to $508 million.  BNSF's operating ratio decreased to 80.7%
compared with 81.8% for the same prior year period.

    Dividend Increase
    As announced July 22, 2004, the Board of Directors of the Company voted to
increase its next quarterly dividend by 13 percent, or 2 cents per share, to
17 cents per share on outstanding common stock.  This dividend will be payable
on October 1, 2004 to shareholders of record on September 10, 2004.  This
equates to 68 cents per share on an annualized basis.  This dividend increase
is in addition to the 25 percent increase approved by the Board in July 2003.

    BNSF's subsidiary, The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company,
operates one of the largest railroad networks in North America, with about
32,500 route miles covering 28 states and two Canadian provinces.  The railway
is among the world's top transporters of intermodal traffic, moves more grain
than any other American railroad, transports the components of many of the
products we depend on daily, and hauls enough coal to generate about ten
percent of the electricity produced in the United States.  BNSF is an industry
leader in Web-enabling a variety of customer transactions at
http://www.bnsf.com .

    Financial information follows.
    Statements made in this release concerning projections or expectations of
financial or operational performance, including equipment availability, crew
capacity, network fluidity and expected volume growth, or concerning other
future events or objectives or results, are "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  Forward-looking statements
involve a number of risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ
materially from that projected or implied in those statements.  Important
factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to,
economic and industry conditions: material adverse changes in economic or
industry conditions, both within the United States and globally, changes in
customer demand, effects of adverse economic conditions affecting shippers,
adverse economic conditions in the industries and geographic areas that
produce and consume freight, and changes in crew availability and labor
difficulties, including stoppages affecting either BNSF's operations or our
customers' abilities to deliver goods to BNSF for shipment; and operating
factors: technical difficulties, changes in operating conditions and costs,
the extent of the Company's ability to achieve its operational goals and
initiatives, the effectiveness of steps taken to maintain and improve
operations and service, the effect of congestion on other railroads, as well
as natural events such as severe weather, fires, floods and earthquakes, or
the effects of acts of terrorism or other disruptions of the Company's
operating systems or its ability to use its structures or equipment.
    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 statement.  Any
corrections or revisions may appear in the Company's public filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are accessible at
http://www.sec.gov or on the Company's website at http://www.bnsf.com , and
which you are advised to consult.  Investors are encouraged to read the
Company's earnings release and investors' report together with its SEC filings
for a more complete picture and better understanding of the Company and its
financial disclosures.


     Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
     Consolidated Income Information*
     (Dollars in millions, except per share data)

                                        Three Months          Six Months
                                       Ended June 30,       Ended June 30,
                                       2004      2003       2004      2003

    Operating revenues
      Freight revenues               $ 2,637   $ 2,263   $  5,085  $  4,465
      Other revenues                      48        31         90        61
        Total operating revenues       2,685     2,294      5,175     4,526

    Operating expenses
      Compensation and benefits          818       699      1,605     1,417
      Purchased services                 351       312        691       613
      Depreciation and amortization      251       225        500       451
      Equipment rents                    197       180        384       349
      Fuel                               326       267        606       546
      Materials and other                234       199        471       392
        Total operating expenses       2,177     1,882      4,257     3,768

    Operating income                     508       412        918       758
    Interest expense                     101       106        203       212
    Other expense, net                     5         3          2         5

    Income before income taxes and
     cumulative effect of accounting
     change                              402       303        713       541
    Income tax expense                   153       103        271       193

    Income before cumulative effect
     of accounting change                249       200        442       348
    Cumulative effect of accounting
     change, net of tax (A)              ---       ---        ---        39

    Net income                       $   249   $   200   $    442  $    387

    Diluted earnings per share
     before cumulative effect of
     accounting change               $  0.67   $  0.54   $   1.18  $   0.94
    Diluted earnings per share
     after cumulative effect of
     accounting change               $  0.67   $  0.54   $   1.18  $   1.04

    Diluted average shares
     outstanding (in millions)         373.5     372.4      373.7     372.9

    Operating ratio (B)                80.7%     81.8%      81.9%     83.0%

     (A)  Reflects the adoption of SFAS No. 143. This standard changed the way
          the rail industry accounts for asset retirement costs.
     (B)  Calculated as total operating expenses less other revenues divided
          by freight revenues.
      *   Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to
          the current period presentation.


     Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
     Consolidated Balance Sheet Information
     (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

                                                    June 30,     December 31,
                                                      2004           2003
    Assets
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                     $    64        $    18
      Accounts receivable, net                          242            129
      Materials and supplies                            294            266
      Current portion of deferred income taxes          320            292
      Other current assets                              345            157
        Total current assets                          1,265            862

    Property and equipment, net                      25,376         25,068

    Other assets                                      1,351          1,009

    Total assets                                    $27,992        $26,939

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable and other current
       liabilities                                  $ 2,074        $ 2,102
      Long-term debt due within one year                309            244
        Total current liabilities                     2,383          2,346

    Long-term debt and commercial paper               6,678          6,440
    Deferred income taxes                             7,750          7,481
    Casualty and environmental liabilities              477            462
    Minimum pension liability                           359            359
    Employee separation costs                           133            144
    Other liabilities                                 1,303          1,212
        Total liabilities                            19,083         18,444

    Stockholders' equity:
      Common stock and additional paid-in capital     5,966          5,771
      Retained earnings                               6,570          6,240
      Treasury stock                                 (3,522)        (3,340)
      Unearned compensation                             (58)           (36)
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss              (47)          (140)
        Total stockholders' equity                    8,909          8,495

    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity      $27,992        $26,939

    Book value per share                            $ 23.93        $ 22.87

    Common shares outstanding (in millions)           372.3          371.5

    Net debt to total capitalization*                 43.7%          44.0%

     *  Net debt is calculated as total debt less cash and cash equivalents,
        and capitalization is calculated as the sum of net debt and total
        stockholders' equity.


     Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
     Consolidated Cash Flow Information
     (in millions)

                                       Three Months          Six Months
                                       Ended June 30,       Ended June 30,
                                      2004        2003      2004      2003

    Operating activities

      Net income                    $   249   $     200  $    442  $    387
      Adjustments to reconcile net
       income to net cash provided
       by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization   251         225       500       451
        Deferred income taxes           101         114       183       183
        Employee separation costs paid   (7)         (8)      (15)      (18)
        Cumulative effect of
         accounting change              ---         ---       ---       (39)
        Other, net                       10         (24)       (3)      (17)
        Changes in working capital       69          57      (193)      (56)

    Net cash provided by operating
     activities                         673         564       914       891

    Investing activities

      Capital expenditures             (386)       (495)     (692)     (835)
      Other, net                        (97)        (22)     (269)      (32)

    Net cash used for investing
     activities                        (483)       (517)     (961)     (867)

    Financing activities

      Net (repayments) borrowings      (140)          9       233       188
      Dividends paid                    (55)        (44)     (111)      (89)
      Purchase of BNSF common stock     (90)        (46)     (172)     (123)
      Proceeds from stock options
       exercised                         85          16       141        18
      Other financing activities          1          (4)        2        (3)
    Net cash provided by (used for)
     financing activities              (199)        (69)       93        (9)
    Increase (decrease) in cash and
     cash equivalents                    (9)        (22)       46        15
    Cash and cash equivalents:
      Beginning of period                73          65        18        28
      End of period                 $    64   $      43  $     64  $     43


     Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
     Operating Statistics

                                       Three Months          Six Months
                                       Ended June 30,       Ended June 30,
                                      2004       2003      2004       2003

    Cars/units (in thousands)         2,362      2,129     4,568      4,171

    Average revenues per car/unit   $ 1,116    $ 1,063   $ 1,113    $ 1,070

    Revenue ton miles (in millions) 142,625    124,465   276,909    245,364

    Gross ton miles (in millions)   252,439    223,477   490,238    440,788

    RTM/GTM                            0.56       0.56      0.56       0.56

    Freight revenue/thousand RTM    $ 18.49    $ 18.18   $ 18.36    $ 18.20

    Operating expense/thousand RTM  $ 15.26    $ 15.12   $ 15.37    $ 15.36

    Freight revenue/thousand GTM    $ 10.45    $ 10.13   $ 10.37    $ 10.13

    Operating expense/thousand GTM  $  8.62    $  8.42   $  8.68    $  8.55

    Compensation and
     benefits/thousand GTM          $  3.24    $  3.13   $  3.27    $  3.21

    Average employees                37,819     37,086    37,177     36,528

    Period end employees             37,990     36,654    37,990     36,654

    Thousand RTM/average employee     3,771      3,356     7,448      6,717

    Thousand GTM/average employee     6,675      6,026    13,187     12,067

    Gallons of fuel used (in
     millions)                          337        297       660        589

    Average price per gallon of
     fuel (cents) (A)                  96.7       89.9      91.8       92.7

    GTM/gallon of fuel                  749        752       743        748

    Freight train miles (in
     millions)                           39         38        76         75

    GTM/freight train hours (in
     thousands)                         129        134       131        137

    Route miles operated             32,683     32,318    32,683     32,318

     (A)  Includes handling, taxes and hedge effect.


     Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
     Revenue Statistics by Commodity

                              Three Months             Six Months
                             Ended June 30, Percent   Ended June 30, Percent
    Revenues (in millions)    2004     2003  Change   2004     2003   Change
    Intermodal                $881     $757  16.4%   $1,660   $1,453  14.2%
    Automotive                  80       80   0.0       155      161  (3.7)
    Other Consumer Products     79       74   6.8       152      145   4.8
    Total Consumer Products  1,040      911  14.2     1,967    1,759  11.8

    Industrial Products        620      531  16.8     1,183    1,042  13.5
    Coal                       553      504   9.7     1,073      989   8.5
    Agricultural Products      424      317  33.8       862      675  27.7
    Total freight revenue    2,637    2,263  16.5     5,085    4,465  13.9
    Other revenue               48       31  54.8        90       61  47.5
    Total revenues          $2,685   $2,294  17.0%   $5,175   $4,526  14.3%

    Cars/units (in thousands)
    Intermodal               1,117    1,002  11.5%    2,117    1,926   9.9%
    Automotive                  41       40   2.5        80       82  (2.4)
    Other Consumer Products     46       43   7.0        88       83   6.0
    Total Consumer Products  1,204    1,085  11.0     2,285    2,091   9.3

    Industrial Products        389      354   9.9       757      697   8.6
    Coal                       548      504   8.7     1,069      991   7.9
    Agricultural Products      221      186  18.8       457      392  16.6
    Total cars/units         2,362    2,129  10.9%    4,568    4,171   9.5%

    Average revenue per car/unit
    Intermodal                $789     $755   4.5%     $784     $754   4.0%
    Automotive               1,951    2,000  (2.5)    1,938    1,963  (1.3)
    Other Consumer Products  1,717    1,721  (0.2)    1,727    1,747  (1.1)
    Total Consumer Products    864      840   2.9       861      841   2.4

    Industrial Products      1,594    1,500   6.3     1,563    1,495   4.5
    Coal                     1,009    1,000   0.9     1,004      998   0.6
    Agricultural Products    1,919    1,704  12.6     1,886    1,722   9.5
    Average revenue per
     car/unit               $1,116   $1,063   5.0%   $1,113   $1,070   4.0%

    Revenue ton miles
     (in millions)
    Intermodal              27,969   25,040  11.7%   53,309   48,254  10.5%
    Automotive               1,225    1,195   2.5     2,341    2,448  (4.4)
    Other Consumer Products  3,248    3,102   4.7     6,239    6,169   1.1
    Total Consumer Products 32,442   29,337  10.6    61,889   56,871   8.8

    Industrial Products     26,551   23,982  10.7    51,284   47,254   8.5
    Coal                    58,645   51,662  13.5   112,317   99,536  12.8
    Agricultural Products   24,987   19,484  28.2    51,419   41,703  23.3
    Total revenue ton
     miles                 142,625  124,465  14.6%  276,909  245,364  12.9%

    Freight revenue per
     thousand ton miles
    Intermodal              $31.50   $30.23   4.2%   $31.14   $30.11   3.4%
    Automotive               65.31    66.95  (2.4)    66.21    65.77   0.7
    Other Consumer Products  24.32    23.86   1.9     24.36    23.50   3.7
    Total Consumer Products  32.06    31.05   3.3     31.78    30.93   2.7

    Industrial Products      23.35    22.14   5.5     23.07    22.05   4.6
    Coal                      9.43     9.76  (3.4)     9.55     9.94  (3.9)
    Agricultural Products    16.97    16.27   4.3     16.76    16.19   3.5
    Freight revenue per
     thousand ton miles     $18.49   $18.18   1.7%   $18.36   $18.20   0.9%


     Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
     Capital Expenditures and Track Maintenance*

                                        Three Months          Six Months
                                       Ended June 30,       Ended June 30,
                                      2004       2003      2004       2003

    Capital expenditures (in
     millions)
      Maintenance of way
        Rail                        $    63    $    80   $   114    $   127
        Ties                             71         83       139        135
        Surfacing                        48         48        75         73
        Other                            94         96       169        167
          Total maintenance of way      276        307       497        502
      Mechanical                         18         26        32         49
      Information services               13         15        24         25
      Other                              18         18        28         36
          Total maintenance of
           business                     325        366       581        612

      New locomotive acquisitions       ---         84        16        156
      Terminal and line expansion        61         45        95         67
        Total capital expenditures  $   386    $   495   $   692    $   835

    Track maintenance
      Track miles of rail laid
        Maintenance of business         200        249       318        356
        Expansion projects               37         29        37         33
       Total                            237        278       355        389

      Cross ties inserted (thousands)
        Maintenance of business         678        861     1,178      1,212
        Expansion projects               94         81       102         84
       Total                            772        942     1,280      1,296

      Track resurfaced (miles)        3,493      3,851     5,269      5,811

     *  Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the
        current period presentation.


SOURCE Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation




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  • http://www.bnsf.com
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    CONTACT:
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    media, Richard Russack, +1-817-867-6425, both of Burlington
    Northern Santa Fe Corporation