More rumors? NOT HERE.............

A rumor bouncing around here in Atlanta has it that KCS has purchased TFM outright and that they will start running intermodal service from a port on the Pacific Coast of Mexico all the way to Atlanta. The source is an individual known for his tall tales and yet sometimes telling the truth.

What say ye, KCS people?

There's no need for rumors. Kansas City Southern is a publicly-traded company and has made no secret of this transaction.

Two clicks on the KCS web site (www.kcsi.com, then "for the media," then "company profile KCSM") arrive at the following.

http://www.kcsi.com/corporate/kcsm.html

KCS wrote:On April 1, 2005, Kansas City Southern (KCS) completed the purchase of the controlling interest in TFM, S.A. de C.V. (TFM) from Grupo TMM, S.A. (TMM). As a result, KCS owns all of the common stock of Grupo Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. and controls all of the shares of TFM entitled to full voting rights. In December 2005, the name TFM, S.A. de C.V. was changed to Kansas City Southern de Mexico (KCSM).... KCSM remains a Mexican corporation with Mexican leadership.

While specific operational plans for Atlanta are not detailed, KCS does state in general that acquisition of TFM will improve the link between Mexican ports and the US.

KCS wrote:The line ... connects the major population centers of Mexico City and Monterrey with the heartland of the U.S. and serves the ports of Veracruz, Tampico and Lazaro Cardenas, a primary alternative to West Coast ports for shippers in the route between Asia and North America.

The KCS system map indicates that KCS access to Atlanta (from Birmingham, AL, and Meridian, MS) is through a "marketing agreement" with Norfolk Southern.

As MEH so simply stated, "there's no need for rumors". Perfect. "CLICK".