<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE, SUBMITTED AS EXHIBIT 27.1 TO FORM 10-Q, CONTAINS SUMMARY
FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND
STATEMENT OF INCOME OF KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN INDUSTRIES, INC., COMMISSION
FILE NUMBER 1-4717, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
</LEGEND>                      
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                   JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                     JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                             8,800,000
<SECURITIES>                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    200,200,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                               0
<INVENTORY>                                       39,300,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 392,400,000
<PP&E>                                         1,783,100,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                   545,700,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,567,200,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            396,700,000
<BONDS>                                          758,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                        7,100,000
<COMMON>                                           1,100,000
<OTHER-SE>                                       856,600,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2,567,200,000
<SALES>                                                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 618,300,000
<CGS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    423,500,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                33,600,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  193,700,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                      72,400,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              104,900,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                     104,900,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           0.96
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           0.92