Missouri River Runner

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M

Maury Bredahl

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I recently journeyed from Jefferson City to Los Angeles, with the Missouri portion on the River Runner. Prior to travel I was not able to find information on that train so this report.

The train consist is two coach cars, a combination business/café/coach car and a single engine. According to local volunteer supervising passenger boarding, business class is sometimes the first car and sometimes the last car. Because I am mobility challenged, car location is helpful! A guess is that it is the first car on westbound trains and the last car on eastbound trains.

Business class seating is 2+1 (in contrast to 2+2 in coach) with spacious leg room. There are four rows of seats with a capacity of 12. Five passengers were seated in the section, so everyone had a single seat or an empty seat next. The seats were fully functional and quite comfortable. The manager of the food area did deliver a complimentary soda after departure.

The ride is bit bumpy, but not bad. Scenery is varied and interesting.
 
The route got various improvements paid for by the Stimulus, iirc, -- a double-track bridge replaced a narrow one-track bridge, a new or longer by-pass here or there. Wonder if there are any remaining projects still underway to tweak it for the better?

The River Runner is in line to get new bi-level cars and new diesels by Sept. 2017. That upgrade should make for an increase in ridership right there.

Meanwhile seems there was mention of a possible third departure each way when enuff equipment comes available. Hope that improvement will come to pass in two or three years.
 
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