Meridian Speedway rail line preps for upgrades in Louisiana, Mississippi

Meridian Speedway LLC, a joint venture between Kansas City Southern and Norfolk Southern Railway, will invest $28 million in construction and improvements on the Vicksburg and Meridian subdivisions, KCS announced yesterday.

The joint venture is a 320-mile rail line between Meridian, Miss., and Shreveport, La., offering end-to-end steel wheel interchange for intermodal customers.

The upcoming work involves the replacement of 6 miles of rail and 83,000 cross ties; improvements to more than 90 road crossings between Gibsland, La., and Vicksburg, Miss.; and upgrades to bridges between Shreveport, La. and Meridian, Miss., KCS officials said in a press release.

The cross tie and road crossing projects will begin June 27 and continue through mid-August. The bridge work got underway earlier this year.

"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 KCS 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."