Video: Columbus Wants Public, Lawmakers to Turn Up Pressure on Railroad

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — Columbus is trying to use pressure from the top and bottom to get a railroad to improve some busy crossings.

City leaders have asked drivers who use the 12 railroad crossings between 2nd and 22nd streets south to call Kansas City Southern Railroad at 877-527-9464 whenever their cars suffer flat tires, bent rims or alignment problems from using the crossings.

The city and the railroad have been at odds over the railroad’s request to close many of the crossings instead of making repairs and installing safety devices.

In addition to trying to rally public pressure, city officials plan to lobby state regulators and the state’s congressional delegation to try to apply pressure on the rail carrier.