(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on July 14, 2010.)
Yesterday, Kansas City Southern announced it will take longer than expected to restore the Kansas City Southern de México S.A. de C.V.’s (KCSM) service over the Anahuac Bridge on a line between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey, Mexico, because of “significant damage” to approaches caused by Hurricane Alex.
It will take a few weeks to repair the damage, and in the interim, KCSM is working with Union Pacific Railroad and Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V. to reroute trains over the Brownsville/Matamoros and Eagle Pass crossings.
“As the water receded below the track level, we were able to determine more clearly the extent of the damage done to the Anahuac Bridge approaches by the surge of debris,” said KCS President and Chief Operating Officer David Starling in a prepared statement.
The hurricane, which struck Mexico late last month, also caused significant track damage in the Monterrey and Saltillo areas, and on lines to Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros. On July 3, KCSM issued freight embargos at the U.S.-Mexico border and into Monterrey that will remain in effect until damage is repaired and the railroad restores service, KCS said.
To ensure traffic rerouted on other gateways is expedited, KCS is working with both Mexican and U.S. customs officials to extend service hours and streamline procedures in Matamoros and Brownsville, Texas.