When I was a kid, I used to enjoy taking a day-trip with my mom and we would take the train from my home town to historic Oak Park, Illinois.  Taking the train to downtown Chicago is almost a must, because driving is so difficult down there.

I have good news to report if you enjoy taking the train and have ridden the historic Missouri River Runner from St Louis to Kansas City, or any points in between including Sedalia.  They will be adding a second train on July 18th!

Facebook Page - Missouri River Runner
Facebook Page - Missouri River Runner
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The 283-mile train service had been reduced to just one round-trip due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The state legislature recently approved an increase in funding for the Missouri Department of Transportation, which allows for the return of a second round-trip train. You can read more HERE.

Below is the press release from the Sedalia Convention & Visitors Bureau:

Help celebrate the arrival of AMTRAK’s second daily round trip train at Sedalia’s historic AMTRAK Missouri River Runner Station, Pacific Street and North Osage Avenue; on Monday, July 18, 2022. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at the station by 10:50 a.m. to help us wave to those on the Missouri River Runner Train 311, with an estimated arrival time of 11:40 a.m.  Area elected officials, along with representatives from Pettis County, City of Sedalia, and various Boards will be represented.

 From Kansas City to St. Louis, with eight stops in between, passengers from all over the State of Missouri and the Midwest, board the AMTRAK Missouri River Runner for leisure travel. Starting July 18, 2022, two trains will be added back to the system for a total of four stops at each of the ten stations along the way. The second daily round trip train had stopped in December 2021 due to financial restraints. Returning the service of two daily round trips was made possible by the funding allocation to MoDot approved by the Missouri State Legislature and Gov. Mike Parsons for FY 2023.

 Ridership of the Missouri River Runner from the Sedalia Station increased by nearly 10 percent in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021. To learn more about each AMTRAK station, the Missouri River Runner schedule or to purchase tickets, visit Amtrak.com.

 For more information on the celebration Monday, July 18, please contact Carolyn Crooker, Sedalia CVB Tourism Director, at 660-827-5295 or carolyn@sedaliamo.org

So who wants to take a ride? You can go to Amtrak.com for ticket information and you can 'LIKE' the Missouri River Runner Facebook page HERE.

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