KSHB 41 reporter Claire Bradshaw covers portions of eastern Jackson County, including areas like Blue Springs and Independence. If you have a story idea to share, send an email to Claire at claire.bradshaw@kshb.com.
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Ridership for Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner passenger train trended down in riders for a few years and took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But Amtrak numbers show ridership was up more than 27% in 2023 compared to 2022.
One of those riders doing his best to spread the word is Mike Fredholm. He estimates he takes the train around 10 times a year from Lee’s Summit to Union Station and back.
He will meet friends for dinner or invite them to downtown Lee’s Summit.
“When you take the train … I think everybody relaxes, there is space to be around," Fredholm said. "For a wheelchair, it’s great because you can just move your wheelchair around and there's a bathroom. I just think it's so much fun, and it's like low-hanging fruit that we need to do more of not less."
Fredholm used to travel the world before an accident made him a quadriplegic. That is where his appreciation for trains comes from.
He wants others to realize the affordability of the Missouri River Runner. A ticket from Lee’s Summit to Union Station costs around $11 one-way.
Often, Fredholm hands out Amtrak brochures and train schedules to people walking around downtown Lee’s Summit.
“I just like this brochure, and I simply read a book by the train station and hand these out to people ... I just say, 'Would you like a free train schedule?'" Fredholm said. "And people just always say ... 'Oh, I've always wanted to ride the train or I've been thinking about it but I don't know how.' So I show them the phone number and the Amtrak.com website.”
Amtrak has seen some growth and development in recent years. In 2023, MoDOT applied for federal money to expand the passenger rail service.
MoDOT received $1 million, and now a consultant is doing feasibility studies on an expansion from Kansas City to Saint Joseph and Hannibal to Quincy, Illinois, to connect to Chicago.
“I just think we have this magic train system, and these are big machines that cost a lot of money we have running through our towns, and I just don't think enough of us are riding them," Fredholm said.
Amtrak does cost money to function, but it also brings in significant money, according to MoDOT.
The latest reportsaid the Missouri River Runner provides 1,250 jobs annually. It also brings in $22 million in annual tax revenue and $208 million in economic activity.
The train’s funding comes from ticket sales, which is estimated to be $8 million in fiscal year 2025, along with $16 million in state funding.
MoDOT puts together a passenger rail plan every few years to receive financial support from the federal government because, right now, there is not a dedicated federal funding source for passenger rail services.
Overall, Fredholm sees this as his way to promote Amtrak, and, in turn, make it better.
When asked, he said he wished the train had better marketing and improved services.
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