Cross the mighty Mississippi! Crossing the Mississippi River was a significant symbolic moment in the history of American expansion. The over 2,300 mile long river is the 4th longest in the world, stretching from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, and its river valley has been instrumental to and the home to several indigenous peoples including the Sioux and Potawatomie. In addition to its role in facilitating westward expansion, the Mississippi has been the subject of treaties and national boundaries and had major wars fought over its control including the War of 1812 and the US. Civil War. What is MetroLink? MetroLink is a 46-mile light rail system serving the greater St. Louis metropolitan area and would present many unique opportunities for TSW. Opened in 1993, the system is operated by Metro Transit and owned by the Bi-State Development Agency. The system is composed of two lines connecting St. Louis, MO and the suburbs of St. Louis County with the Metro East region of Central Illinois. If brought to TSW, the system would bring an exciting mix of above, at, and below grade suburban and urban rail traffic within view of major historic landmarks in the city that has become a symbol of westward expansion and Manifest Destiny in America's heartland. Light rail? Isn't that a tram?? In addition to being the first Midwestern route for TSW, MetroLink would also be TSW's first light rail route. It's important to remember that the system is light rail in the American sense. it's not a tram route and does not run along streets or share traffic with cars; instead it is called light rail because it has lower (lighter) passenger volume than a system such as the NYC Subway, Chicago L, LA Metro, or PATH and runs shorter trains consisting of equipment built for less passenger density and general abuse and lacking creature comforts such as the ability to go between trains connected in multiple and PIS screens. MetroLink, like other American light rail systems, still runs grade separated, operating on elevated, at grade, and below grade tracks and through a short tunnel segment with traditional high platforms. Rolling Stock The system currently operates 87 Siemens SD-400 and SD-460 Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) built from 1985-1993 and 1999-2005 respectively. The trains are painted in a mix of older white and newer blue liveries. These trains are powered by 750V DC OHLE and have a top speed of 65 mph. They are also used by Pittsburgh Regional Transit in Pennsylvania and the Valencia Metro in Venezuela. Older Siemens models are also used in Denver, Calgary, and Salt Lake City. The system is set to accept a delivery of 55 Siemens S200 LRVs by 2027, but they are not yet in service. Red Line The MetroLink system is composed of two lines that share a significant amount of track through the city of St. Louis and parts of Illinois. The Red line begins with two above-grade stops at Terminals 1 and 2 of St. Louis Lambert Intl. Airport. The line then makes several stops at-grade through North County, the colloquial way locals refer to the northern part of St. Louis County, including two stops at the University of Missouri, St. Louis campus. The line continues south through North County and enters the city of St. Louis, stopping below grade near the trendy Delmar Loop before joining the Blue line to travel east. Blue Line The Blue line starts in South County and travels north through the suburbs of South and West County before cutting east and going underground as it enters the city, making two stops at the West and East ends of world-renowned research university Washington University in St. Louis, often referred to as simply WashU. Skinker Station Joining up After the two lines join up at Forest Park-DeBaliviere north of the famous Forest Park, the lines travel below and at grade through the ritzy Central West End, WashU Medical Campus, Cortex innovation community, Midtown, and toward downtown making stops at historic Union Station (the city's former intercity train station now serving as a tourist trap), Civic Center (where Amtrak trains and intercity buses now stop), and Stadium near Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals. The last stop on the Missouri side, Laclede's Landing, gives riders an amazing view of the Gateway Arch, a 630 ft monument commemorating St. Louis as the Gateway to the West before crossing the historic Eads Bridge built over the Mississippi in 1874. Both lines continue into Illinois with the Red Line extending past the end of the Blue Line to Scott Air Force Base. Central West End station near WashU Med Campus Cortex Station near Cortex Innovation Community View from Laclede's Landing Historic Eads Bridge Washington University in St. Louis and St. Louis University mascots during the annual College Transit Challenge
