Kansas has been awarded $6.56 million in federal funds to make railroad improvements between Solomon and Downs.

Work will be conducted along 84 miles of rail line operated by the Kyle Railroad in north central Kansas. The overall project will cost $8.2 million and involves installing 50,400 ties and making improvements to 24 highway crossings.

KDOT says that the poor condition of the rail line requires Kyle trains to move at only 10 mph. After improvements are completed in the summer of 2012, trains will be able to travel up to 25 mph.

The Kansas Department of Transportation says the funds come from the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery III program. The state project is known as the Solomon Rural Rail Infrastructure Project.