Exhibit 99.1

Annual CEO Certification

(Section 303A.12 (a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual)

As the Chief Executive Officer of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, and as required by Section 303A.12(a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, I hereby certify that as of the date hereof I am not aware of any violation by the Company of NYSE’s Corporate Governance listing standards, other than has been notified to the Exchange pursuant to Section 303A.12(b) and disclosed as an attachment hereto.

/s/ Matthew K. Rose

Matthew K. Rose

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

May 20, 2004

[No attachment accompanied this Annual CEO Certification.]

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