Mobilizing the Midwest Fleet: MoDOT Secures Extra Amtrak Cars for Missouri River Runner Today

Missouri River Runner capacity is being expanded as Kansas City prepares for an influx of World Cup visitors this summer. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Amtrak officials say some summer departures are expected to sell out. So travelers are being encouraged to reserve seats early.

Added cars for Missouri River Runner capacity

The Missouri Department of Transportation said Wednesday that it will sponsor extra cars for the Missouri River Runner. The service runs between St. Louis and Kansas City. The added cars are being moved from Illinois and Michigan. They will be placed on daily round trips on the route.

According to the department, the additional equipment will raise capacity on each train by 25%.

“Missouri is proud to welcome visitors from around the world during these World Cup matches, and these additional train cars are key to providing them multimodal options around our state,” said Ed Hassinger, the department’s director, in a statement. “We’re thankful to our partners at Amtrak, Illinois and Michigan to help provide this convenient service to our residents and guests during such a monumental event.”

The expanded capacity is scheduled to run from June 15 through July 12. That end date falls one day after Kansas City’s final local World Cup game and quarterfinal match.

The Missouri River Runner already began operating an extra daily round trip in April. The change was made to meet higher expected demand. Together, the added round trip and extra rail cars increase both daily service and capacity on each train during the World Cup travel period. Still, KCUR reported that an Amtrak spokesperson said some travel dates may still sell out. That makes early booking important.

Kansas City World Cup transportation options

Kansas City is also preparing local transportation for large numbers of fans. Through the ConnectKC26 program, game ticket holders will be able to use a direct shuttle to the stadium. Also, free shuttles will run every 15 minutes between Kansas City International Airport and a downtown bus hub.

A round-trip ticket for the stadium shuttle will cost $15. The airport shuttle will be free.

Fans will also have access to “region direct” bus service from the FIFA Fan Festival. The service will run to more than a dozen locations across the metro area. As KSHB noted, those bus routes will cost $5 for an unlimited day pass. They will cost $25 for a weekly pass and $50 for access throughout the tournament.

Local transportation options will require advance booking. In addition, booking is set to open in early May. People can sign up for updates through the KC2026 website.

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