The Missouri Department of Transportation has requested a third daily Missouri River Runner Amtrak service between St. Louis and Kansas City starting in April 2026 to accommodate increased travel demand during the 2026 World Cup matches in Kansas City.
According to the official minutes of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission meeting on August 6, 2025, “MoDOT requested a multimodal appropriation decrease of $20.9 million compared to the fiscal year 2026 Transportation Asset and Financial Plan. This request includes $1.7 million of general revenue to add a third-round trip on the Amtrak River Runner for the World Cup in Kansas City, Missouri in July 2026. The additional train will provide more travel options for visitors attending the matches and will operate from April through July 2026 before returning to the standard two-train schedule.”
Amtrak’s FY24 Fact Sheet for Missouri reports that “725,473 total passengers boarding or alighting Amtrak trains within the state. This figure encompasses services including the Missouri River Runner, which connects St. Louis and Kansas City with stops in Hermann, Jefferson City, and Independence. The data highlights the importance of rail travel in supporting regional mobility and tourism in Missouri,” according to Amtrak.
In addition, Amtrak reported that “in Fiscal Year 2025, it provided 34.5 million customer trips, a 5.1% increase over FY24 and an all-time record. This growth occurred across all service lines, including a 8% increase in Northeast Corridor ridership. The surge demonstrates rising demand for passenger rail as a reliable transportation option nationwide,” according to Amtrak.
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