Press "Enter" to skip to content

Pearce optimistic about passenger rail for students

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, is celebrating a recent study that indicates college students are perhaps the next focus group for train companies like Amtrak.

The Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRC) released findings last Thursday indicating that “there [is] a small but dedicated group who ride trains regularly to and from school, and a wider group open to taking the train, who would likely do so with some relatively simple ‘prodding’ by the participating schools and Amtrak.”

“There are many reasons students and faculty can benefit from riding Amtrak to school every day,” Pearce said in a statement. “When compared to other forms of public transportation, it’s clear that rail can be the most comfortable, efficient and affordable option for many Missourians. Looking ahead, we need to be working in partnership with colleges across the region to spread the word about intercity rail and ensure that our students, teachers and university staff know this great travel option is available to them.”

Pearce
Pearce

The survey took input from multiple states, but in Missouri the survey found that 43 percent of respondents, made up of students, faculty and other higher education staff, have taken a train to travel to or from school. Of that number, 60 percent had ridden once or twice in the past 12 months, but just 19 percent had ridden five or more times in the past year.

While these results do not necessarily show that trains are a popular option for students, the MIPRC also found that many did not ride trains because they were not seen as convenient due to time constraints, there is not an Amtrak station close to home or that some people simply do not know where their nearest Amtrak station is.

Missouri currently has only 12 train stations, most of them along or near I-70.

However, MIPRC also notes that should it offer more education to students and faculty about their options and possibly install more stations closer to more residences, there could be a larger boost in student passengers.

“The MIPRC survey showed that many students in the region rely on train travel to commute to and from their schools,” Pearce said. “It also illuminated a need for growth among students who could benefit from intercity rail service but might not be informed enough to know. Moving forward, one of MIPRC’s main goals will be to work with Midwest universities to better spread information about the financial and environmental benefits Amtrak transportation can provide.”