<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 STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>                      
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         27,900,000
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  199,200,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    44,000,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               430,100,000
<PP&E>                                         1,807,200,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                 554,400,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,584,200,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          301,900,000
<BONDS>                                        846,300,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    6,100,000
<COMMON>                                       1,100,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     884,700,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2,584,200,000
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               952,500,000
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  652,300,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             50,700,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                296,500,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                   110,600,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            160,100,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   160,100,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.41