(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on September 22, 2009.)
Kansas City Southern and Kansas City Southern de México S.A. de C.V. (KCSM) officials recently updated local business leaders and lawmakers about long-term plans to improve rail service in and around the greater Laredo/Nuevo Laredo area at the U.S./Mexico border.
The plan comprises two phases: a new international rail bridge and urban bypass, and the Nuevo Laredo “secure corridor.” KCS recently submitted a filing to Mexican authorities seeking federal approval for the new international bridge. A working group including KCSM, Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, state of Tamaulpas and city of Nuevo Laredo representatives is refining the engineering, legal and financial aspects of the two-phase project, according to an item posted on the “KCS News” Web site.
The secure corridor plans calls for relocating rail capacity from KCSM’s BJ line to the B line to free up land for public uses, such as parks, avenues and housing. KCSM would build a double-track segment on the B line while public authorities would construct several vehicular overpasses to grade separate the line.