MoDOT explores Springfield-to-St. Louis train service

The department is exploring the possibility of adding one daily round-trip route between the two cities, with stops in Lebanon, Rolla, Sullivan and Kirkwood. The possible expansion would not happen for at least a year, MoDOT said in a news release.

“Population and travel is way up in the Springfield/Branson area, and Fort Leonard Wood is very busy as well,” said Brian Weiler, MoDOT multimodal operations director, in the release. “And with highways becoming more congested and fuel costs going up, more people than ever are looking for other ways to travel.”

The train would run on existing rail lines that Weiler said are in good condition and experience little congestion.

MoDOT currently supports Amtrak service between St. Louis and Kansas City, and national Amtrak routes run between Kansas City and northeast Missouri and between St. Louis and Poplar Bluff.[[In-content Ad]]