“We actually just placed an order for some locomotives that will be delivered early next year,” Ottensmeyer says. “So we are back in the game for locomotives … a total of 50.”
It was not immediately clear whether GE Transportation or Progress Rail’s Electro-Motive Diesel won the order or if it was split between the two manufacturers. Spokespeople for KCS and GE did not immediately return email seeking comment.
KCS in recent years has purchased both GE ES44ACs and EMD SD70ACe locomotives.
The railroad expects strong traffic growth this year, particularly in cross-border intermodal, refined products moving from the Gulf Coast to Mexico, automobiles produced at Mexican assembly plants, crude oil, and chemical and plastics shipments.
“We see strength in most of our businesses,” Ottensmeyer says.
The only two traffic segments that are weak this year are coal and grain. The closure of a coal-fired power plant in Texas dealt a significant blow to KCS coal traffic, while congestion in south Texas has affected the cycle times of grain shuttle trains running between the Midwest and Mexico.
Don’t some of the Class 1’s have locomotives in storage? KCS could maybe get a good deal from UP.
They could probably get a deal from CSX right now with all the equipment they’ve been sidelining as they try to cut their way to profitability. (-: (-:
What models did they buy?
This is going to be interesting
This sounds great that KCS is ordering new locomotives once again, as last I heard KCS hasn’t purchased any new locomotives since 2014. I hope that they ordered the SD70ACe-T4s from Progress Rail (EMD) as the EMD Tier 4’s look better than the GE Tier 4’s, plus it will be nice to see more new KCS Southern Belles on the roster.