Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] | Period [Axis] |
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2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31 |
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Schedule of Net Benefit Costs | Components of the net (benefit) cost for certain employee benefit plans were as follows (in millions): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pension Benefits | | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | | December 31, 2014 | Service cost | | $ | 46 |
| | $ | 48 |
| | $ | 38 |
| Interest cost | | 95 |
| | 90 |
| | 95 |
| Expected return on plan assets | | (142 | ) | | (138 | ) | | (134 | ) | Amortization of prior service credits | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | Amortization of net loss | | 1 |
| | 2 |
| | 1 |
| Settlements | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | Net (benefit) cost recognized | | $ | (2 | ) | | $ | — |
| | $ | (2 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits | | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | | December 31, 2014 | Service cost | | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 1 |
| Interest cost | | 10 |
| | 10 |
| | 11 |
| Amortization of prior service credits | | (2 | ) | | (2 | ) | | (2 | ) | Amortization of net loss | | 1 |
| | 2 |
| | 1 |
| Net cost recognized | | $ | 10 |
| | $ | 11 |
| | $ | 11 |
|
|
Schedule of Net Funded Status [Table Text Block] | The following table shows the change in projected benefit obligation (in millions): | | | | | | | | | | | | Pension Benefits | Change in Benefit Obligation | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | Projected benefit obligation at beginning of period | | $ | 2,320 |
| | $ | 2,452 |
| Service cost | | 46 |
| | 48 |
| Interest cost | | 95 |
| | 90 |
| Actuarial gain | | (55 | ) | | (111 | ) | Benefits paid | | (143 | ) | | (145 | ) | Administrative expenses | | — |
| | (1 | ) | Settlements | | (16 | ) | | (13 | ) | Projected benefit obligation at end of period | | 2,247 |
| | 2,320 |
| Component representing future salary increases | | (102 | ) | | (146 | ) | Accumulated benefit obligation at end of period | | $ | 2,145 |
| | $ | 2,174 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits | Change in Benefit Obligation | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | Projected benefit obligation at beginning of period | | $ | 258 |
| | $ | 280 |
| Service cost | | 1 |
| | 1 |
| Interest cost | | 10 |
| | 10 |
| Plan participants’ contributions | | 5 |
| | 5 |
| Actuarial gain | | (13 | ) | | (13 | ) | Benefits paid | | (24 | ) | | (25 | ) | Projected benefit obligation at end of period | | $ | 237 |
| | $ | 258 |
|
At December 31, 2016, BNSF’s pension plans had plan assets in excess of accumulated and projected benefit obligations. At December 31, 2015, BNSF's pension plans had plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligations and projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets. The following tables show the change in plan assets of the plans (in millions): | | | | | | | | | | | | Pension Benefits | Change in Plan Assets | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period | | $ | 2,289 |
| | $ | 2,342 |
| Actual return on plan assets | | 193 |
| | 95 |
| Employer contributionsa | | 10 |
| | 11 |
| Benefits paid | | (143 | ) | | (145 | ) | Administrative expenses | | — |
| | (1 | ) | Settlements | | (16 | ) | | (13 | ) | Fair value of plan assets at measurement date | | $ | 2,333 |
| | $ | 2,289 |
|
a Employer contributions were classified as Other, Net under Operating Activities in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. | | | | | | | | | | | | Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits | Change in Plan Assets | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period | | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| Employer contributionsa | | 19 |
| | 20 |
| Plan participants’ contributions | | 5 |
| | 5 |
| Benefits paid | | (24 | ) | | (25 | ) | Fair value of plan assets at measurement date | | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
a Employer contributions were classified as Other, Net under Operating Activities in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
The following table shows the funded status, defined as plan assets less the projected benefit obligation (in millions): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pension Benefits | | Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits | | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | Funded status (plan assets less projected benefit obligations) | | $ | 86 |
| | $ | (31 | ) | | $ | (237 | ) | | $ | (258 | ) |
|
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] | The following table shows the pre-tax change in AOCI attributable to the components of the net cost and the change in benefit obligation (in millions): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pension Benefits | | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | Change in AOCI | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | | December 31, 2014 | Beginning balance | | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 34 |
| | $ | 427 |
| Amortization of net loss | | 1 |
| | 2 |
| | 1 |
| Amortization of prior service credits | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | Actuarial gain (loss) | | 106 |
| | 68 |
| | (392 | ) | Settlements | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | Ending balance | | $ | 207 |
| | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 34 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits | | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | Change in AOCI | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | | December 31, 2014 | Beginning balance | | $ | (21 | ) | | $ | (34 | ) | | $ | (20 | ) | Amortization of net loss | | 1 |
| | 2 |
| | 1 |
| Amortization of prior service credits | | (2 | ) | | (2 | ) | | (2 | ) | Actuarial gain (loss) | | 13 |
| | 13 |
| | (13 | ) | Ending balance | | $ | (9 | ) | | $ | (21 | ) | | $ | (34 | ) |
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Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] | Pre-tax amounts currently recognized in AOCI consist of the following (in millions): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pension Benefits | | Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits | | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | Net gain (loss) | | $ | 206 |
| | $ | 99 |
| | $ | (14 | ) | | $ | (28 | ) | Prior service credits | | 4 |
| | 5 |
| | 5 |
| | 7 |
| Settlements | | (3 | ) | | (2 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| Pre-tax amount recognized in AOCI at December 31, | | $ | 207 |
| | $ | 102 |
| | $ | (9 | ) | | $ | (21 | ) | After-tax amount recognized in AOCI at December 31, | | $ | 128 |
| | $ | 63 |
| | $ | (6 | ) | | $ | (13 | ) |
|
Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block] | The assumptions used in accounting for the BNSF plans were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pension Benefits | | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | Assumptions Used to Determine Net Cost | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | | December 31, 2014 | Discount rate | | 4.2 | % | | 3.8 | % | | 4.5 | % | Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets | | 6.6 | % | | 6.6 | % | | 6.8 | % | Rate of compensation increase | | 3.8 | % | | 3.8 | % | | 3.8 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits | | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | Assumptions Used to Determine Net Cost | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | | December 31, 2014 | Discount rate | | 4.1 | % | | 3.7 | % | | 4.5 | % | Rate of compensation increase | | 3.8 | % | | 3.8 | % | | 3.8 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pension Benefits | | Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits | Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligations | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | Discount rate | | 4.1 | % | | 4.2 | % | | 3.9 | % | | 4.1 | % | Rate of compensation increase | | 3.3 | % | | 3.8 | % | | 3.3 | % | | 3.8 | % |
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Sensitivity analysis of impact on future net benefit cost resulting from hypothetical change in assumptions [Table Text Block] | The following table is an estimate of the impact on future net benefit cost that could result from hypothetical changes to the most sensitive assumptions, the discount rate and rate of return on plan assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sensitivity Analysis | | | | Change in Net Benefit Cost | Hypothetical Discount Rate Change | | | Pension | | | Retiree Health and Welfare | 50 basis point decrease | | | $ | 1 | million | increase | | | $ | — |
| decrease | 50 basis point increase | | | $ | 7 | million | decrease | | | $ | — |
| increase | Hypothetical Rate of Return on Plan Assets Change | | | Pension | | | | | 50 basis point decrease | | | $ | 11 | million | increase | | | | | 50 basis point increase | | | $ | 11 | million | decrease | | | | |
|
Schedule of Health Care Cost Trend Rates [Table Text Block] | The following table presents assumed health care cost trend rates: | | | | | | | | | | | | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | | Year Ended | | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 | | December 31, 2014 | Assumed health care cost trend rate for next year (participants over 65) | | 3.0 | % | | 3.0 | % | | 3.0 | % | Assumed health care cost trend rate for next year (participants under 65) | | 7.4 | % | | 7.7 | % | | 7.9 | % | Rate to which health care cost trend rate for participants under 65 is expected to decline and remain | | 4.4 | % | | 4.5 | % | | 4.5 | % | Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate | | 2039 |
| | 2038 |
| | 2028 |
|
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Schedule of Effect of One-Percentage-Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates [Table Text Block] | A one percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects (in millions): | | | | | | | | | | | | One Percentage-Point Increase |
| | One Percentage-Point Decrease |
| Effect on total service and interest cost | | $ | 1 |
| | $ | (1 | ) | Effect on postretirement benefit obligation | | $ | 17 |
| | $ | (15 | ) |
|
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block] | The following table summarizes the investments of BNSF’s funded pension plans as of December 31, 2016, based on the inputs used to value them (in millions): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total as of | | | | | | | Asset Category | | December 31, 2016 | | Level 1 Inputs a | | Level 2 Inputs a | | Level 3 Inputs a | Cash and equivalents | | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| Equity securitiesb | | 2,139 |
| | 2,139 |
| | — |
| | — |
| Government obligations | | 164 |
| | — |
| | 164 |
| | — |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | 21 |
| | — |
| | 21 |
| | — |
| Investment funds and other | | 8 |
| | 8 |
| | — |
| | — |
| Totalc | | $ | 2,333 |
| | $ | 2,148 |
| | $ | 185 |
| | $ | — |
|
a See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the heading “Fair Value Measurements” for a definition of each of these levels of inputs. b As of December 31, 2016, four equity securities each exceeded 10 percent of total plan assets. These investments represent approximately 56 percent of total plan assets. c Excludes less than $1 million accrued for dividend and interest receivable.
Comparative Prior Year Information The following table summarizes the investments of BNSF’s funded pension plans as of December 31, 2015, based on the inputs used to value them (in millions): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total as of | | | | | | | Asset Category | | December 31, 2015 | | Level 1 Inputs a | | Level 2 Inputs a | | Level 3 Inputs a | Cash and equivalents | | $ | 167 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 164 |
| | $ | — |
| Equity securitiesb | | 2,060 |
| | 2,060 |
| | — |
| | — |
| Government obligations | | 12 |
| | — |
| | 12 |
| | — |
| Other fixed maturity securities | | 31 |
| | — |
| | 31 |
| | — |
| Investment funds and other | | 19 |
| | 19 |
| | — |
| | — |
| Total c | | $ | 2,289 |
| | $ | 2,082 |
| | $ | 207 |
| | $ | — |
|
a See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the heading “Fair Value Measurements” for a definition of each of these levels of inputs. b As of December 31, 2015, three equity securities each exceeded 10 percent of total plan assets. These investments represented approximately 47 percent of total plan assets. c Excludes less than $1 million accrued for dividend and interest receivable. |
Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments Years 2015 - 2024 [Table Text Block] | The following table shows expected benefit payments from its defined benefit pension plans and expected claim payments for the retiree health and welfare plan for the next five fiscal years and the aggregate five years thereafter (in millions): | | | | | | | | | | | Fiscal year | | Expected Pension Plan Benefit Payments |
| a | | Expected Retiree Health and Welfare Payments |
| 2017 | | $ | 166 |
| | | $ | 19 |
| 2018 | | $ | 153 |
| | | $ | 18 |
| 2019 | | $ | 152 |
| | | $ | 18 |
| 2020 | | $ | 151 |
| | | $ | 17 |
| 2021 | | $ | 145 |
| | | $ | 16 |
| 2022-2026 | | $ | 661 |
| | | $ | 73 |
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a Primarily consists of the BNSF Retirement Plan payments, which are made from the plan trust and do not represent an immediate cash outflow to the Company. |