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Kansas City Southern recently launched a pilot version of Customer Request, an online tool that enables customers to release empty rail cars via the Web.


Under the pilot's first phase, a few customers who currently fax empty-car requests to KCS will test the Internet application.


In April, the Class I plans to roll out Customer Request for all customers. Then in June, KCS expects to launch the tool's second phase, which would enable customers to electronically order and release cars, and provide spotting instructions. The railroad plans to complete Customer Request's roll out in August.


"This new Web-enabled tool improves ease of doing business for the customer, as well as the consistency, timeliness and accuracy of
requests," KCS officials said in a prepared statement.