OREANDA-NEWS. The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR) is pleased to announce the promotion of M. Christopher Mitchell from director locomotive utilization to assistant vice president system mechanical. He is based in Kansas City, Mo. and reports to executive vice president and chief operating officer Dave Ebbrecht.

“Chris has demonstrated his ability to manage fleet distribution well and he plays an integral role in executing our transportation service plan,” said Mr. Ebbrecht. “He has a keen awareness of all aspects of mechanical operations and its role in the larger network.”

Mr. Mitchell has over 10 years of railroad experience, starting as a craft employee in KCSR's Diesel Shop in Shreveport, La. He was promoted into management two years later. Since then, his focus has been on locomotive utilization; management of the Manager Locomotive Utilization and Mechanical Assistance Coordinator Desks in the Network Operations Center; oversight of the day to day operations of the KCSR locomotive fleet; right-sizing of the fleet to support business levels; and equalizing horse power hours with other railroads.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City Southern (KCS) (NYSE:KSU) is a transportation holding company that has railroad investments in the U.S., Mexico and Panama. Its primary U.S. holding is KCSR, serving the central and south central U.S. Its international holdings include Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., serving northeastern and central Mexico and the port cities of Lazaro Cardenas, Tampico and Veracruz, and a 50 percent interest in Panama Canal Railway Company, providing ocean-to-ocean freight and passenger service along the Panama Canal. KCS' North American rail holdings and strategic alliances are primary components of a NAFTA Railway system, linking the commercial and industrial centers of the U.S., Mexico and Canada.