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County may buy UP tracks for Kansas City commuter line
Two observations: How can it be that this site still posts repeated comments from those lacking patience?
And, is it not interesting that the Rock’s bones are still being picked over?
Former Mayor Wheeler once said that the BNSF would not cooperate with a similar plan which would connect Olathe and Overland Park with downtown K.C. If there is demand, let’s do it.
This is the stub end of the Rock’s line to St. Louis. UP retained it when it sold the rest to a straw man for Ameren. Ameren took over very soon thereafter, giving the straw man buyer a generous profit. Ameren wanted the line because it serves the Labadie generating plant, about 30 mi W of STL, in order to deny UP a monopoly on service to this coal-burning facility. Ameren contracts with the Central Midland/Missouri Central subsidiary of Indiana RR. They use the eastern 50 or so miles, serving industries near Union MO, and storing coal cars beyond Union.
This is the stub end of the Rock’s line to St. Louis. UP retained it when it sold the rest to a straw man for Ameren. Ameren took over very soon thereafter, giving the straw man buyer a generous profit. Ameren wanted the line because it serves the Labadie generating plant, about 30 mi W of STL, in order to deny UP a monopoly on service to this coal-burning facility. Ameren contracts with the Central Midland/Missouri Central subsidiary of Indiana RR. They use the eastern 50 or so miles, serving industries near Union MO, and storing coal cars beyond Union.
This is the stub end of the Rock’s line to St. Louis. UP retained it when it sold the rest to a straw man for Ameren. Ameren took over very soon thereafter, giving the straw man buyer a generous profit. Ameren wanted the line because it serves the Labadie generating plant, about 30 mi W of STL, in order to deny UP a monopoly on service to this coal-burning facility. Ameren contracts with the Central Midland/Missouri Central subsidiary of Indiana RR. They use the eastern 50 or so miles, serving industries near Union MO, and storing coal cars beyond Union.
This is the stub end of the Rock’s line to St. Louis. UP retained it when it sold the rest to a straw man for Ameren. Ameren took over very soon thereafter, giving the straw man buyer a generous profit. Ameren wanted the line because it serves the Labadie generating plant, about 30 mi W of STL, in order to deny UP a monopoly on service to this coal-burning facility. Ameren contracts with the Central Midland/Missouri Central subsidiary of Indiana RR. They use the eastern 50 or so miles, serving industries near Union MO, and storing coal cars beyond Union.
Considering how big KC is it’s about time they really consider expanding their transit system. That 2 mile streetcar line isn’t going to cut it. The city is bigger than St. Louis yet St. Louis’ MetroLink (which still leaves something to be desired in terms of expansiveness) is way better than anything KC currently has.
Well somebody desided to get off there ass and finally do something. Its a great idea. People could ride the train in to see a ball game or two. Fingers are crossed. Lets do this
No most of the original rail and i do mean original is still there. Ive worked east out of kc to jefferson city and back on the sadalia sub. you can still see rail between lees summit and pleasant hill.
Is this the former Rock Island trackage between K.C. and Lee’s Summit or those of the former MoPac which Amtrak uses?
The ex-Rock Island R.O.W. seems to be intact through here, but weren’t the tracks removed from this corridor a few years ago?
I have long thought this would make a good commuter corridor. UP may also want to use it when their own lines are congested. As long as the commuter authority does the dipatching, this shouldn’t delay the commuter service.
However, when UP tried to reopen this line to ease congestion some years ago, the NIMBYs were able to stop it. Let’s hope they don’t prevent commuter service as well.
While they are at it, there is a mostly abandoned ex-Frisco route that I think ties in with this one that could provide a commuter service to Belton.
To imagine a commuter train on the Pixley spur is a joke. It is a 5 mph branch. As for the old Rock Island Raytown replaced a bridge over the line with fill, companys have pulled up rail for increased parking. Towns and MODOT have been paveing over the tracks at road crossings for years!
Hopefully it happens. In the past there has been talk of establishing commuter rail on the old GM&O, ICG, CMNW, Gateway Western now KCS from Kansas City to Blue Springs or maybe Odessa. Nothing ever became of it.
George, the BNSF was willing to cooperate. Johnson County had a signed letter of intent for the route beside I-35 into Union Station in hand. The City of KCMO refused to cooperate. The Transit Authority told the County they could run all the trains into Union Station they wanted to run. The TA refused to provide bus service from the station to anywhere else in the Metro area, including downtown and the Plaza.
Just finished reading a new book about the demise of the Rock. And, yes, the bones will be picked over for many years to come. Lots of detail left out of this article compared to the details available here in KC.
I like the fact that the commuter rail line serves the Truman sports complex where the Royals play baseball and the Chiefs play football, and is also used for some other events during the warmer weather for concerts, exhibits, fairs, and shows. This should help boost sagging attendance for their sports teams, although part of that may be due to their failure to make the playoffs. but unlike most cities, who have sports teams closer or within downtown, the Truman sports Complex is on the far east side, but it is well kept. The commuter trtains will be a welcome help for both teams.
Jim Dodds: The City is currently studying expansion routes which would add approximately 8 to 10 miles to the 2-mile starter line. Expansion is pending successful TDD votes in August and November.
Robert Leeka; Do you have a source for your 6:27 comment? I have trouble believing that the ATA would refuse to provide bus service to Union Station, considering that US and Crown Center are two of the best-served locations in the downtown area. Perhaps you mean they would not have been able to provide additional buses on top of existing service to go along with the proposed commuter rail without additional funding?
Interestingly, the entire right-of-way from St Louis to Kansas City is still intact, and most of the rails are in place. Commuter service from Union, MO to St Louis would also be well worth looking into. However, mini auto trains between Eldon, MO and St Louis and Kansas City might be worth considering. Eldon is just north of Lake Of The Ozarks, and such an operation might alleviate chronic traffic problems on I-70 in the summer.
Why doesn’t TRAINS provide maps of situations such as this. It appears that there is confusion as to where this line exists. For we who are not in KC, it would be useful to understand the article and the comments if a map were available of the area impacted.