KANSAS CITY, MO — Kansas City Southern’s 17th annual Holiday Express train kicks off its charitable run Nov. 24 in Victoria, TX. The train will stop in 22 communities in six states on 26 dates running through Dec. 19.

At each stop, visitors can board the train, visit with Santa and his elves, and tour the inside of three cars of the festive six-car train. The event is free.

The Holiday Express has raised well over $1 million to purchase gift cards, which are donated to the Salvation Army at each stop. The gift cards are then used to buy warm clothing and other necessities for children in need in the local community.

KCS is working with the Salvation Army this year to specially assist communities along the route most impacted by Hurricane Harvey, including Victoria, El Campo, Kendleton and Beaumont. The KCS Charitable Fund will make a supplemental donation at these communities.KCS and its employees have previously given over $100,000 to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Harvey relief.

As floodwaters recede and sunny skies prevail, railroad activity in Houston and along the Southeast Texas coast is resuming. Class I railroads have restarted service across most of the network affected by Hurricane Harvey in late August, and Amtrak plans to restart its Sunset Limited by Wednesday.

Harvey halted rail traffic when it hit near Corpus Christi on Aug. 25 and barreled up the coast. The storm dumped a U.S. record 52 inches of rain in some areas, causing an estimated $75 billion in damages.

Railroads sustained flooded yards and washed-out track and bridges, forcing stoppages and delays. Traffic on Union Pacific, BNSF, Kansas City Southern, Amtrak and Houston METRORail was idle the first four or five days after the storm.

But by last Thursday, all but 50 miles of Union Pacific track in Houston had been restored, according to an update on the company’s website. Elsewhere, all BNSF subdivisions affected by the storm had opened, and KCS had most service restored.

In the wake of unprecedented flooding and damage along the Texas coast, Union Pacific and Kansas City Southern today announced combined pledges of $300,000 toward supporting Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

UP pledged $250,000 to be come from corporate and employee donations. Immediate donations of $100,000 to the American Red Cross and $50,000 to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund are being made. Additionally, Union Pacific will match contributions to its “Friend to Friend” employee support network through Sept. 30, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000.

The company, whose Southern Region division is headquartered in Houston, will also match donations made to a Disaster Relief Matching Gifts Program for Hurricane Harvey, where employees can provide funding directly to American Red Cross, Salvation Army and others.

KCS announced its charitable fund will immediately donate $50,000 to the American Red Cross. In addition, the Kansas City-based railroad will match dollar for dollar employee gifts to the American Red Cross via the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation-KCS Fund up to $25,000.

UPDATED 4:15 p.m. Aug. 28, 2017
By TOM MARSH/Cowcatcher Magazine

HOUSTON — Deteriorating conditions from Tropical Storm Harvey is causing major disruptions on the region’s rail lines three days after one of Texas’ most historic weather events blew ashore.

Widespread flooding in the greater Houston area forced the suspension of all of BNSF’s operations at Houston-area railyards and facilities, including the Pearland Intermodal and Automotive facilities, according to a service advisory posted today. Some locations have received nearly 40 inches of rain and several more inches are expected during the next 48 hours.

BNSF reported multiple washouts and high water on main lines in and around Houston, halting inbound and outbound traffic. Other area rail lines, including those with BNSF trackage rights, have also been forced out of service, the carrier said.