Greatly reduced ridership levels due to the coronavirus pandemic have resulted in Amtrak’s long distance passenger trains switching from daily to tri-weekly schedules.
The Texas Eagle train, which operates between Chicago, Illinois, and San Antonio, Texas, still stops in Poplar Bluff three nights a week.
A southbound train arrives at 11:42 p.m. on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday while a northbound train arrives at 2:44 a.m. on Wednesday, Saturday and Monday.
Amtrak trains stop at the 1910 Iron Mountain station. The parking lot is off Second Street, three blocks south of Pine Street (Business 60).
Due to COVID-19, the Amtrak waiting room in the center of the historic train station has been closed until further notice. Passengers may wait in a vehicle until the train arrives.
Poplar Bluff ridership figures are not available for the 2020 fiscal year, but there were 4,266 passengers boarding or getting off during the 2019 fiscal year and 4,640 during the 2018 fiscal year.
Amtrak employees are working to keep passengers safe by doing more frequent sanitizing, increasing air ventilation, requiring passengers to wear masks and limiting reservations to 50% so social distancing can be better maintained on the trains.
To obtain schedules and tickets, click on Amtrak.com or call 1-800-872-7245.