SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                        Date of Report (Date of earliest
                                event reported):
                                 August 2, 2004


                              KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN
               (Exact name of company as specified in its charter)


          DELAWARE                    1-4717                    44-0663509
 (State or other jurisdiction     (Commission file            (IRS Employer
        of incorporation)             number)             Identification Number)


                427 West 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


                Company's telephone number, including area code:
                                (816) 983 - 1303


                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address if changed since last report)












Item 5.  Other Events

Kansas City Southern ("KCS" or "Company") announced on August 2, 2004, that
James S. Brook has been appointed Vice President and Comptroller. See the Press
Release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 for further information.



Item 7.          Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits

                 Exhibit No.  Document
                 (99)         Additional Exhibits

                 99.1         Press Release issued by Kansas City Southern dated
                              August 2, 2004 entitled, "Kansas City Southern
                              Announces Appointment of James S. Brook as Vice
                              President and Comptroller," is attached hereto as
                              Exhibit 99.1



































SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company
has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.


                                           Kansas City Southern


Date: August 3, 2004         By:           /s/ Ronald G. Russ
                                  -------------------------------------------
                                               Ronald G. Russ
                            Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer






EXHIBIT 99.1

KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN                                            PRESS RELEASE
Cathedral Square - 427 West 12th Street - P.O. Box 219335
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9335                                NYSE SYMBOL: KSU



     Date:        August 2, 2004

     Media Contact: Doniele Kane, 816-983-1372 or doniele.c.kane@kcsr.com


          Kansas City Southern Announces Appointment of James S. Brook
                        as Vice President and Comptroller

          Kansas City Southern (KCS) (NYSE:  KSU) announced  today that James S.
     Brook has been appointed vice  president and  comptroller.  Mr. Brook joins
     KCS  from  Aquila,  Inc.,  where  he held a  variety  of  senior  executive
     positions from 1993 to 2004, most recently as vice president  international
     regulation.  From 1993 to 1999, he served as vice president  controller and
     chief accounting officer.

         Mr. Brook has 20 years of management experience in electric and gas
     utilities and associated regulated and unregulated ventures. His skills
     range from corporate governance, international mergers and acquisitions and
     capital deployment to treasury, audit and regulatory and financial
     reporting.

         "We are pleased that Jim Brook will bring his financial and managerial
     expertise to KCS," said Ronald G. Russ, executive vice president and chief
     financial officer. "Jim brings a fresh perspective to the railroad industry
     that will be an asset as Kansas City Southern grows and strengthens in the
     NAFTA trade corridor."

         Mr. Brook holds a master of business administration with an emphasis on
     finance and marketing from the University of Kansas and a bachelor of
     commerce with a major of accounting and finance from the University of
     Manitoba. He is a chartered accountant, the Canadian equivalent to a
     certified public accountant.

         KCS is a transportation holding company that has railroad investments
     in the U.S., Mexico and Panama. Its primary holding is The Kansas City
     Southern Railway Company, which serves customers in the central and south
     central regions of the U.S. KCS' rail holdings and investments are primary
     components of a NAFTA Railway system that links the commercial and
     industrial centers of the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

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