| USD ($) $ in Millions | LTM | Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | Dec 31, 2012 | Dec 31, 2011 | Dec 31, 2010 | Dec 31, 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operating activities | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating Activities | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ 7,618 | $ 7,138 | $ 6,747 | $ 6,379 | ||||||||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation | 2,538 | 2,465 | 2,398 | 2,318 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred and other income taxes | 276 | 241 | 28 | 117 | ||||||||||||||
Gain on non-operating asset dispositions | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Net gain on non-operating asset dispositions | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes and unrecognized tax benefits | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other operating activities, net | (167) | (193) | (13) | (132) | ||||||||||||||
Changes in current assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable, net | (219) | 34 | 179 | (177) | ||||||||||||||
Materials and supplies | (203) | (18) | (26) | (2) | ||||||||||||||
Materials and supplies. | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other current assets | 43 | 25 | (69) | (38) | ||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and other current liabilities | 150 | (196) | 189 | (215) | ||||||||||||||
Income and other taxes | 491 | (206) | (87) | 129 | ||||||||||||||
Cash provided by operating activities | 10,527 | 9,290 | 9,346 | 8,379 | ||||||||||||||
Investing activities | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital investments | (3,833) | (3,791) | (3,452) | (3,606) | ||||||||||||||
Proceeds from asset sales | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Maturities of short-term investments (Note 13) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Purchases of short-term investments (Note 13) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Acquisition of equipment pending financing | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of assets financed | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other investing activities, net | 31 | 29 | 127 | (61) | ||||||||||||||
Cash used in investing activities | (4,427) | (3,762) | (3,325) | (3,667) | ||||||||||||||
Financing activities | ||||||||||||||||||
Financing Activities | ||||||||||||||||||
Common share repurchases (Note 18) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Dividends paid | (3,302) | (3,236) | (3,213) | (3,173) | ||||||||||||||
Share repurchase programs (Note 18) | (26) | (2,679) | (1,505) | (705) | ||||||||||||||
Debt repaid | (1,523) | (1,428) | (2,226) | (2,190) | ||||||||||||||
Debt issued (Note 14) | 0 | 1,995 | 800 | 1,599 | ||||||||||||||
Net issued/(paid) commercial paper (Note 14) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Debt exchange (Note 14) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other financing activities, net | 139 | 72 | 77 | (156) | ||||||||||||||
Cash used in financing activities | (4,712) | (5,276) | (6,067) | (4,625) | ||||||||||||||
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | 1,388 | 252 | (46) | 87 | ||||||||||||||
Term loan renewals | - | - | - | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Common shares repurchased but not yet paid | - | - | - | 5 | ||||||||||||||
Locomotives sold for material credits | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Capital lease financings | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Supplemental cash flow information | ||||||||||||||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Non-cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital investments accrued but not yet paid | 139 | 131 | 165 | 137 | ||||||||||||||
Cash paid during the year for: | ||||||||||||||||||
Federal income taxes, net of refunds | (543) | (543) | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Total state income taxes, net of refunds | (321) | (321) | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Foreign income taxes, net of refunds | (13) | (13) | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Income taxes, net of refunds | - | - | (1,340) | (1,486) | ||||||||||||||
Settlement of current liabilities for debt | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Cash paid during the year for: [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest, net of amounts capitalized | $ (1,298) | $ (1,311) | $ (1,260) | $ (1,268) |