(The following story by Brad Cooper appeared on the Kansas City Star website on May 8.)
KANSAS CITY — Amtrak today announced plans to run motor coaches in place of trains for the rest of the workweek between Kansas City and St. Louis.
The first train out of Kansas City at 12:30 p.m. each day will be replaced by a bus for the entire trip to St. Louis. The second trip out of Kansas City at 4:30 p.m. will be replaced by a bus between Jefferson City and Kansas City.
Amtrak is adjusting it service to deal with heavy freight traffic on Union Pacific’s tracks, which are undergoing $27 million in construction. Amtrak pays Union Pacific to use its line between Kansas City and St. Louis.
Last summer, Amtrak had to turn to buses to avoid track construction. The work took a toll on Amtrak ridership last year when its Kansas City to St. Louis route had the largest percentage decline of any short-distance route in the country.