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Kansas City Southern recently completed an 8,500-foot extension to its 1,300-foot Gibsland, La., siding to increase train speed on the Class I's Meridian Speedway and a double track in Jackson, Miss. Now, the railroad is turning its attention toward several 2004 maintenance-of-way projects.

KCS is installing a siding in Harmon, La., designed to halve a 40-mile distance between existing Brandon and Lake, La., sidings. Crews are completing bridge work and grading, and installing switches on the siding, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter.

By year end, the Class I also plans to double-track the west end of its High Oak Yard in Jackson, Miss.; install Centralized Traffic Control at its Shreveport, La., yard; and complete a five-mile double mainline between Monroe and Magenta, La., to separate the line from yard tracks and increase train speed.