Amtrak River Runner reports ridership gains; service adjustments planned for World Cup travel

Officials at a Missouri passenger rail advisory meeting reported that ridership and revenue on Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner were up roughly 9 percent through February and that a short‑term budget package is being pursued to add a third round trip for several weeks around the upcoming World Cup.

Presenters told the committee that Amtrak and MoDOT are in the middle of their budget processes; the $1,720,000 package under discussion would fund a third round trip concentrated in April–June to accommodate expected event travel between St. Louis and Kansas City. The packet is moving through the legislature and state budget procedures but had not been finalized at the time of the briefing.

The advisory briefing also noted rolling stock and on‑time performance issues. Amtrak removed 80 Horizon cars from service for inspection after corrosion concerns; staff said that those removals are not expected to materially affect River Runner service in the Washington area, though occasional trains could run with one or two shorter consists while equipment is reallocated.

Speakers also reported seasonal and winter‑weather delays during the quarter — freight congestion on grades and weather‑related switch problems contributed to missed trains — but emphasized the ridership and revenue gains as positive indicators. MoDOT plans to update the economic impact study for the corridor and expects the updated modeling to show larger impacts for stops on the River Runner route.

Committee members flagged a local marketing effort: Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg is running a backpack journalism program to produce features on River Runner stops, which could include Washington later in the year, and local tourism staff said they will coordinate with the student teams.

No formal committee action was taken on Amtrak funding or service changes during the meeting.