Railroad News

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Managing Editor

Kansas City Southern has named Brian Hancock executive vice president and chief innovation officer, and Michael Naatz, EVP and chief marketing officer effective Oct. 1.

Hancock and Naatz will continue to report to President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Ottensmeyer, according to a KCS press release.

Kansas City Southern has published its 2017 sustainability report, which highlights how the company implements "responsible business practices."

The report follows the Global Reporting Initiative's latest standards for disclosing governance, economic, social and environmental topics. The standards provide for the disclosure of measurable data and specific information related to sustainability.

Kansas City Southern and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) officials last week hosted a ceremony to mark the completion of the Secondary Examination Station at the KCS Laredo rail yard in Texas.

The new building, located along KCS rail operations, provides Customs and Border Patrol employees with a safe and secure area to conduct secondary rail examinations, KCS officials said in a press release.

Kansas City Southern today reported record second-quarter results that topped Wall Street estimates for quarterly profit.

KCS posted record revenue of $682 million, up 4 percent, and record operating income of $246 million, up 3 percent, compared with second-quarter 2017.

Kansas City Southern officials joined state, federal and local officials at a groundbreaking ceremony held this week for the first phase of a 540-acre rail-served industrial park in El Campo, Texas.

The SW International Gateway Park will feature 10 million square feet of warehouse, manufacturing and rail-served distribution facilities. The park will be located along KCS' rail network, according to a press release issued by NAI Partners, a real estate brokerage.

Kansas City Southern will acquire 50 new locomotives from GE Transportation for the railroad's subsidiaries in the United States and Mexico, the companies announced today.

The first units are expected to be delivered in early 2019. The agreement includes digital solutions to help improve operations and fuel efficiency, according to a jointly issued press release.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Managing Editor

Kansas City Southern has promoted Ginger Adamiak to vice president of energy, industrial development and commercial innovation, the Class I announced yesterday.

Adamiak previously served as VP of energy and short-line relations. Her promotion is part of the KCS' realignment of its commercial innovation and industrial development functions to create one organization focused on developing new revenue streams, said Executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer Brian Hancock in a press release.

Kansas City Southern yesterday announced the appointments of Michael Walczak to vice president mechanical, Maquiling Parkerson to vice president labor relations and Adam Godderz to associate general counsel and corporate secretary.

Effective immediately, the appointments were made for professional advancement and organizational development, KCS officials said in a press release.

Kansas City Southern has been recognized as one of the 2018 CIO 100 for exemplifying operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT).

KCS will be honored at the CIO 100 Symposium & Awards Ceremony to be held Aug. 15 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Each year, the IDG's CIO highlights technology innovation and business value delivered by the award winners.

Kansas City Southern yesterday announced a new weekly intermodal service between the Port of New Orleans and Wylie, Texas, will begin in May.

The Class I previously offered intermodal service in the lane, but it was discontinued following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Kansas City Southern reported record first-quarter 2018 results, including a 5 percent increase in revenue and a 4 percent hike in operating income compared with last year's first quarter, the Class I announced today.

KCS' revenue in the quarter rose to $639 million from $609.5 million a year ago. The Class I posted record Q1 diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.40, up 1 percent, and record Q1 adjusted diluted EPS of $1.30, up 11 percent over Q1 2017.

Avant Energy will build a network of terminals to supply refined petroleum products from the Port of Altamira, Tamaulipas, to the Bajio region of north-central Mexico, the company announced last week.

The network will be known as Suministro de Petroliferos Altamira–Bajio, or SUPERA, Avant Energy officials said in a press release.

Kansas City Southern today reported record fourth-quarter 2017 revenue of $660 million, up 10 percent from the same period a year ago due to a 5 percent increase in volume.

KCS reported Q4 2017 operating income rose 13 percent to $238 million compared with Q4 2016, KCS officials said in a press release.

Kansas City Southern has promoted Ashley Thorne from assistant vice president to vice president of investor relations. She succeeds William Galligan, who retired, and reports to KCS Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer Michael Upchurch.

Galligan joined KCS in 1992 and developed the company’s corporate communications and investor relations programs. He became AVP of investor relations for both the railroad and the company’s financial services companies in 1992, and VP of investor relations in 2008.  Prior to joining KCS, Galligan worked for 13 years for a publicly-owned electric utility in Connecticut.
 
"I would like to thank Bill for his outstanding efforts to serve the investment community for 25 years, and always representing KCS as a shareholder-friendly company,” said Upchurch in a press release.