JEFFERSON CITY — Amtrak could soon be making a stop in the small Missouri town of De Soto, marking the return of passenger rail service after a 53-year absence.
As part of the budget approved by state lawmakers last week, the Missouri Department of Transportation received a $1 million earmark designed to partially pay for a train platform serving passengers for two stops a day.
“I think it will be a great asset to the community and to the region,†said Rep. Cindy Buchheit-Courtway, R-Festus, who represents the Jefferson County community. “It’s really exciting.â€
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The funding, which must be approved by Gov. Mike Parson and matched with local funds, marks the latest step in a yearslong process to restore rail service along Amtrak’s Texas Eagle route.
In August, Amtrak said the rail line would consider adding the stop if the city works out an agreement with Union Pacific, the freight railroad that owns the tracks.
In addition, the community must demonstrate it can sustain passenger ridership numbers to justify a stop.
Backers of the project hope to add twice-daily De Soto stops to Amtrak’s Texas Eagle line, which links Chicago to ºüÀêÊÓƵ and San Antonio, Texas.
A northbound Amtrak train now comes through De Soto at about 6:05 a.m. and a southbound train about 9:10 p.m. The nearest current stops are about 40 miles north in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ and about 50 miles south in Arcadia, Missouri.
The platform is set to be across from the De Soto Public Library on Main Street. The stop will likely have a ticket kiosk, a roof with solar panels and charging stations for electric cars.
Union Pacific for many years has had a rail repair facility in De Soto. De Soto hasn’t had a regular passenger train stop since 1971.
Buchheit-Courtway said the stop would likely draw riders from a wide swath of the area.
“I think people will go all over. There are a lot of people who want to ride the train but they are scared to go to ºüÀêÊÓƵ and park their car in ºüÀêÊÓƵ,†she said. “I think it’s going to be huge for the community.â€
Buchheit-Courtway acknowledged the current stopping times are not convenient to many travelers, but said she hopes high demand will result in another train being able to stop at some point in the future.
The MoDOT budget proposal also includes a $16 million subsidy to continue twice-a-day service on the Missouri River Runner train, which runs from ºüÀêÊÓƵ to Kansas City.