Kansas City Southern to invest $20 million on main line projects

Kansas City Southern Railway Co. (KCSR) will spend $20 million on construction and improvement projects on its main line from Kansas through Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and northwest Louisiana, the railroad announced yesterday.

The projects include replacement of 6 miles of rail and 92,400 cross ties, as well as improvements to more than 100 grade crossings. Work will begin April 19 and end in mid-June, according to a KCSR press release.

The line segment represents a key component of Kansas City Southern's (KCS) network, railroad officials said. KCSR is the principal U.S. subsidiary of KCS.

Rail improvements are planned between Heavener, Okla., and Blanchard, La., beginning and completing in June. Communities that KCSR will work through include Page, Okla.; Mena, Cove, Vandervoort, Gillham and De Queen, Ark.; and Blanchard, La.

"KCS, through its U.S. and Mexican subsidiaries, continues to invest in capital projects to expand network capacity, keep maintenance in a regular and healthy cycle, and enhance the safety of our operation," said Chief Executive Officer David Starling. "These investments also help us be an economic growth partner to our customers and the communities through which we operate."