EXHIBIT 23.1



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                       ----------------------------------

We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement  on Form S-3 of our  report  dated  March  22,  2001  relating  to the
financial statements of Kansas City Southern Industries,  Inc., which appears in
Kansas City Southern Industries,  Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended  December 31,  2000,  as amended.  We also consent to the  reference to us
under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Kansas City, Missouri
May 14, 2001