Storm disrupts KCS’s Mexican links

Storm disrupts KCSÆs Mexican links    Kansas City Southern said rail service in northern Mexico has been disrupted by damage resulting from Hurricane Alex.
   While it said traffic in some of the impacted areas was expected to resume Thursday, it cautioned that as rail lines reopen, it could take up to two weeks to clear congestion and move trains parked as a result of service disruption.
   Alex, which made landfall on June 30, impacted service on KCS's primary Mexican rail subsidiary, Kansas City Southern de Mexico (KCSM), by causing significant track damage around the Monterrey and Saltillo areas as well as on the lines to Laredo and Matamoros.
   There have also been multiple track-related incidents due to the hurricane.
   KCSM said it has issued freight embargos at the U.S.-Mexico border and into Monterrey while the damage is repaired.
   The railroad said it is using all available resources to recover, including sending equipment, track materials and personnel into Mexico from the United States. It said it is working with connecting carriers to maximize opportunities for movement and staging of trains so that when the lines do reopen and congestion clears service will return to normal as soon as possible.