Amtrak and the Missouri Department of Transportation, together with Union Pacific Railroad , are celebrating the restoration of regular twice-daily round-trip trains on the St. Louis-Kansas City Missouri Mules route. “Santa Claus” and volunteer station hosts from Kirkwood and Jefferson City participatedin a series of special events Dec. 1.

“Santa Claus” and others rode westbound across the Show Me state in the “Cheyenne,” an historic UP railcar, which left St. Louis at 8:30 a.m. on the Kansas City Mule (Train 311). The train made all the regular stops and dignitaries and media were invited to ride a short distance or across the state, returning that afternoon and evening on the St. Louis Mule (Train 316), which left Kansas City at 4:30 p.m.

The celebration marks a $32 million rehabilitation of the 283-mile route, which is owned by UP. Nearly 70 miles of track has been improved to make rail service more reliable and smoother. The track work, which began April 1 and ended this week, resulted in lengthened travel times and the substitution of chartered motor coaches for all or parts of many of the trains.

"The interrupted service has been frustrating for several months for passengers," said Missouri State Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood. "We can all be thankful for the return of safer and smoother full service in time for the holiday season."

The end of the 2006 track work project also means the reintroduction of regular schedules (attached) for all four trains on the route, two westbound and two eastbound, including Trains 313 & 314.

Another part of the celebration is the introduction of a fare promotion to welcome the regular service. From Dec. 1 to April 1, customers who use Fare Code V539 are entitled to bring along a companion for 50% off the regular fare. Some restrictions apply and the discount can be obtained when booking via Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAIL or by visiting staffed Amtrak stations, including those in St. Louis and Kansas City.
Amtrak operates the St. Louis-Kansas City route under a contract with MoDOT.

Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 21,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com.

Amtrak St. Louis – Kansas City Schedules
Westbound
Train 311 Kansas City Mule Train 313 Ann Rutledge
8:30 AM St. Louis, MO 3:30 PM St. Louis, MO
8:59 AM Kirkwood, MO 3:59 PM Kirkwood, MO
9:36 AM Washington, MO 4:36 PM Washington, MO
10:04 AM Hermann, MO 5:04 PM Hermann, MO
10:51 AM Jefferson City, MO 5:52 PM Jefferson City, MO
12:01 PM Sedalia, MO 7:09 PM Sedalia, MO
12:35 PM Warrensburg, MO 7:39 PM Warrensburg, MO
1:19 PM Lees Summit, MO 8:20 PM Lees Summit, MO
1:35 PM Independence, MO 8:36 PM Independence, MO
2:10 PM Kansas City, MO 9:10 PM Kansas City, MO

Eastbound
Train 314 Ann Rutledge Train 316 St. Louis Mule
7:30 AM Kansas City, MO 4:30 PM Kansas City, MO
7:49 AM Independence, MO 4:49 PM Independence, MO
8:06 AM Lees Summit, MO 5:06 PM Lees Summit, MO
8:49 AM Warrensburg, MO 5:49 PM Warrensburg, MO
9:19 AM Sedalia, MO 6:19 PM Sedalia, MO
10:33 AM Jefferson City, MO 7:33 PM Jefferson City, MO
11:18 AM Hermann, MO 8:18 PM Hermann, MO
11:46 AM Washington, MO 8:46 PM Washington, MO
12:28 PM Kirkwood, MO 9:28 PM Kirkwood, MO
1:10 PM St. Louis, MO 10:10 PM St. Louis, MO

Amtrak Contact: Marc Magliari
312 880.5390

MoDOT Contact: Jeff Briggs
573 751.5985

Union Pacific Contact: James Barnes
402 544.3560