Missouri's Mules

[ZSmith]

As was written in this months issue, Missouri's ridership has plumeted due to on-time performance. Would it be a good idea to re-route over another line permenently despite communities losing service. If so which route should would be a better fit? NS or KCS (Gateway Western).

[Prairietype]

I think neither. It isn't a prejudice against your proposed alternative routes, nor the communities they would serve. To me it would just be further disruption on a poorly supported and mismanaged rail corridor.

I prefer that the route of the Mules get fixed, that the State DOT complain loudly and publicly on behalf of Amtrak, that the sidings at Strasburg and California be improved ASAP. This is the best stop gap measure available at this time. But we all know that the Sedalia subdivision is a prime candidate for double tracking, as it already is east of Jefferson City.

With the recent news story on rail capacity deficiency that will increasingly plague U.S. railroads the time has come to invest the $7 million a mile in the steel railway, which is just about the same as a lane mile of U.S. highway. 

If anything it would be nice to have Pleasant Hill added as another station stop.

If Amtrak was given respectful consideration by all parties concerned, including the media, then it would be very possible to attain a 4.5 hour KC-St. Louis schedule and observe an amazing increase in ridership.

 

 

 

[SFbrkmn]

It is quite unlikely the trains will be rerouted. Best best is if funding continues to be slashed, the Mules will come off, Ann Rutledge will stay on. The state of MO is not going to take the trains away from the state capital of Jeff City. The Mules were briefly abolished in 1995 but service restored a yr later--again due to budget cuts. This was perhaps my favorite Amtk corridor to ride over. I have been a psgr on little Annie 26 times from 1986-2001. Can't say w/the way things are going over there now that I'm really making plans on any future trips.