(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on January 28.)
The Kansas City Southern Railway Co.’s (KCSR) operating divisions recently were reorganized from three to two divisions, according to an item posted on the “KCS News” Web site.
The new Midwest Division is defined as the line from East St. Louis, Ill., west to Kansas City, Mo., south to Shreveport, La., west to Alliance, Texas, and southeast to New Orleans. The new Southeast Division encompasses a line from Laredo, northeast to Shreveport, east to Meridian, Miss., and north to Counce, Tenn.
KCSR also realigned leadership as part of the reorganization. In the transportation department, general managers have been re-titled as assistant vice presidents of transportation. Claude Friesland will lead the Midwest Division and Mark Redd, the Southeast. Managers of operating practices and division superintendents will report to the AVPs. David Carroll has been assigned as division superintendent for the Midwest Division and Daniel Torres, the Southeast.
Mechanical divisions will be led by directors of mechanical operations — Chris Burchfield for the Midwest and Mark Williams for the Southeast. Meanwhile, Midwest Division Engineer Shawn Vecellio and Southeast Division Engineer Doug Haywood will head engineering.
“I’m confident that with this reorganization, we are in a better position to employ critical resources in the most effective manner,” said Scott Arvidson, KCSR executive vice president and chief operating officer.