All About Kirkwood Train Station Volunteers || Photo Gallery ||

Volunteers Win Prestigious National Amtrak Award! || Station Rentals ||

History of Kirkwood's Train Station || Visitor Log Comments ||

Station Location & Passenger Information || Yearly Totals || 

Want To Be A Volunteer? || Back to Administration Main Page ||

Kirkwood Station Volunteers:
Why We’re Here; What We Do

Due to budget cuts, Amtrak removed its agents at the Kirkwood Train Station effective April 1, 2003. Recognizing the importance of the train station to the city, Kirkwood officials issued a call for volunteers to meet the trains and greet the passengers and visitors. Nearly 200 people responded and the Kirkwood Station volunteer group was born.

All the volunteers are train enthusiasts to varying degrees. They have a common goal – to keep the station open and running. As long as there are passenger trains passing through Kirkwood, the station will be open and staffed by volunteers.  If it is cold and rainy or hot outside and you are comfortable inside the station, thank a volunteer.  Since its inception, the group has met the four daily trains – without exception. In addition to the regular weekdays, evenings and weekends, volunteers have met the trains on every holiday.

The work that these volunteers do is pretty simple and straightforward. They unlock the station an hour before the scheduled arrival of each train and stay until the passengers have departed – even when the trains are running late!  Frequently, the station remains open between trains, especially on weekends. The volunteers answer questions regarding Amtrak schedules and services as well as the sights and shops in the Kirkwood area. They do not sell tickets or collect money.  Passengers must order their tickets online, over the phone, or in person at the downtown station.  After the trains depart, the station is relocked until the next train.

The station volunteers have a variety of skills, which lend themselves to maintaining the facility.  The group meets periodically to clean and polish the station, and to decorate for the seasons.  In the spring and summer, they plant flowers in window boxes to brighten up the look of the station. They also keep the City of Kirkwood informed about needed repairs.

The Volunteer Coordinator and the Leadership Committee help keep all of the volunteers updated on Amtrak and City of Kirkwood requirements and procedures. Volunteers have even written letters and lobbied elected officials to keep train travel a viable alternative.

Volunteers Win Amtrak Award

In October 2004, Amtrak recognized the efforts of the Kirkwood Station Volunteers with its ‘Champion of the Rails’ award at its 25^th annual President’s Service & Safety Awards banquet in Chicago. The accolade is the ONLY Amtrak non-employee award presented, nationwide. The award shown below is now on permanent display at the Kirkwood Train Station. 

Want To Volunteer?

The city is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to provide their time and expertise helping out at our historic station. The information above briefly describes what's involved in being a volunteer at Kirkwood Train Station. If you're interested and would like to be contacted with more information, please complete the form below. Our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you shortly. And, thanks in advance for your interest!

History of Kirkwood's Train Station

In 1852, land where the current station is located (Argonne Avenue and Kirkwood Road) was obtained from Owen Collins by the Pacific Railroad for a right of way. The track for the Pacific Railroad to Kirkwood was completed in 1853. The first train arrived May 11, 1853, for an auction sale of lots, making Kirkwood the first planned suburb west of the Mississippi. The town was named for the chief engineer for the railroad, James Pugh Kirkwood. 

In 1863, a frame depot was built. Here members of the first school board met to draft the charter of the Kirkwood School District, which was granted in 1865. In 1893, Douglas Donovan was hired to construct the current stone station to replace the wooden station. The current station  remains today as an outstanding example of Richardsonian architecture. 

Commuter trains ran to and from Kirkwood until 1961. A train turn-table was located near the present Farmer’s Market for the engines to be turned for the return trip to St. Louis and for the helper engines, which were used to help freight trains manage the “Kirkwood Hill,” prior to the arrival of diesel engines. 

Station Location & Passenger Information

Kirkwood has the highest ridership totals for any station in Missouri that operates between St. Louis and Kansas City. The beautiful station and our wonderful volunteers are why! If you have the opportunity to travel on Amtrak, we hope you'll consider a departure or arrival in Kirkwood, Missouri. Below is information that will be helpful to you as you make your travel arrangements:

Amtrak Tickets: 
Call 1-800-USA-RAIL (872-7245) or visit Amtrak's website at www.amtrak.com. You may also purchase tickets at the downtown St. Louis Station, 551 South 16th Street. 314-331-3309.

Station Location:
Kirkwood Station is located in the heart of Kirkwood, Missouri, at the corner of Argonne Avenue and Kirkwood Road (a.k.a Lindbergh Blvd.)

Free Extended Parking By Kirkwood Station:
That's right! You can park your car in a convenient lot within walking distance of the Kirkwood Station for the duration of your train travels. All you'll need to do is on the day of your departure, obtain a parking pass from one of the volunteers inside the station. This pass must be placed on your front dash and be visible from the outside. Because the parking lot is located across the tracks, please allow ample time to obtain a pass and park your vehicle prior to your train's scheduled arrival.

Train Status:
You can check the on-time arrival and departure information for the train you will be traveling on by calling Amtrak at 1-800-872-7245. A helpful and friendly recorded personality, "Julie," will lead you through easy step-by-step instructions to find out when your train is scheduled to arrive at Kirkwood Station.

Yearly Totals

The yearly totals below represent the number of passengers that station volunteers greeted at the station each month as well as how many hours the station was kept open by the volunteers each month.