Kansas City Southern Announces 13th Annual Holiday Express Schedule; Kicks-Off Charitable Fundraisin
Kansas City Southern Announces 13thAnnual Holiday Express Schedule; Kicks-Off Charitable Fundraising Campaign
KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kansas City Southern (KCS) (NYS: KSU) announced today its schedule for the 2013 Holiday Express train. In its 13th annual run, Kansas City Southern's Holiday Express will stop in 20 communities in six states on 24 dates. At each scheduled 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. Each event is free and open to the public.
In addition to free, public events, KCS' Holiday Express has a charitable component. Over 12 years, the project has raised almost $1.2 million to purchase gift cards, which are donated to the Salvation Army at each scheduled stop. These gift cards are used to purchase warm clothing and other necessities for children in the local community.
Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to the 2013 Holiday Express fundraising campaign may do so online from the Holiday Express section of www.kcsouthern.com or by clicking here. Sponsorship benefits are available for contributions of $500 or more. The 2013 campaign will close on October 31.
The Holiday Express was built on the tradition of the Santa Train, which ran on a segment of the network purchased by KCS in 1997. In 2000, a group of warm-hearted KCS employees noticed that the Santa Train was the only Christmas some kids had, and that some kids did not even have essential items like coats, hats and gloves. These employees were so touched that they committed to elevating the project. In 2001, volunteers transformed a retired freight train to the experience that communities throughout KCS' U.S. service territory enjoy today.
Led by KCS' Southern Belle business train, the Holiday Express train includes a smiling tank car "Rudy"; a flatcar carrying Santa's sleigh, reindeer and a miniature village; a ginger bread boxcar; a newly remodeled elves' workshop; the reindeer stable; and a little red caboose. Each car is dressed in lights.
A photo of the Holiday Express is available here. Like KCS Holiday Express on Facebook to keep up with the latest details.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., KCS is a transportation holding company that has railroad investments in the U.S., Mexico and Panama. Its primary U.S. holding is The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, 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 Lázaro Cárdenas, 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.
Kansas City Southern
C. Doniele Carlson, 816-983-1372
dcarlson@kcsouthern.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America Kansas Missouri
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