Buses to supplement rail service during project

Track improvement work by Union Pacific Railroad in Missouri will cause Amtrak to use chartered buses for one of the daily Missouri River Runner trains between Kansas City and Jefferson City on a series of dates starting Friday and running through June 21.

Transportation officials said improved reliability and a smoother ride will be the result when the improvements in the Sedalia area are finished in time for the Missouri State Fair in August.

Passengers on the morning schedules - Train 311 westbound and Train 314 eastbound - will use buses only for the Kansas City-Jefferson City segment of the route and only on specific days. The bus replacing eastbound Train 314 will depart Kansas City at 7:45 a.m., a half-hour earlier than the normal train schedule. Each stop between Kansas City and Jefferson City will also depart a half-hour earlier than normal. At Jefferson City, passengers will transfer from the bus to the train for the remaining stations to the east, departing a half-hour behind the normal schedule.

All rail service will be maintained between Jefferson City and St. Louis with evening service - Train 313 westbound and Train 316 eastbound - operating normally throughout the entire period.

All trains will operate on normal schedules when crews are not working, including Memorial Day weekend.