ST. LOUIS — Service on Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner remains suspended between Kansas City and St. Louis. The suspension reflects Union Pacific’s diversion of freight traffic because of flooding elsewhere in the Midwest.
The suspension will continue through at least Wednesday, May 29. It began May 22 and originally was estimated to last for just two days. [See “Amtrak suspends ‘Missouri River Runner,’ ‘Southwest Chief’ service,” Trains News Wire, May 22, 2019.] Amtrak and the Missouri Department of Transportation are assessing the situation daily.
Charter buses continue to cover the suspended train’s route. Amtrak notes the buses attempt to adhere to the train schedule as closely as possible, but delays should be expected.
Those planning travel on the route should check the Amtrak website for updates.
Doesn’t Amtrak have a contract that should be enforced requiring their trains to be run on this line? Since this line is not out of service, UP is just cherry picking the trains it wants to run and contracts be damned.