Kansas City Southern to invest $6.5 million on Louisiana rail line

Kansas City Southern Railway Co. will spend $6.5 million on rail and bridge improvements on its Vicksburg Subdivision in Louisiana, the Class I announced yesterday.

The project is designed to address capacity, maintenance and safety on KCS' cross-border network, according to a KCS press release.

Work will begin next week and conclude by the end of November. The project includes replacing 6 miles of rail and improvements to several rail bridges. Crews will be working in the communities of Tallulah, Grambling, Simsboro and Gibsland, 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."

The railroad owns and operates 915 miles of rail infrastructure and serves the river ports of Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and Natchitoches and the Gulf port of New Orleans.