As of 2023[update], there are two daily round trips between Kansas City and St. Louis, with one continuing north to Chicago Union Station as a Lincoln Service train.

Missouri officials pressed for the introduction of the Mules in order to maintain and improve service between St. Louis and Kansas City.

Over the ensuing years of state subsidy, additional station stops were established at Washington, Hermann, Lee's Summit and Independence.

Louis State House connected once per day with the Ann Rutledge to continue through service from Chicago to Kansas City.

The revived station stop at Hermann was instituted in similar fashion to encourage use of Amtrak for access the city's popular German festivals.

[5] In November 2009, Amtrak and Union Pacific completed an $8.1-million 9,000-foot (2,700 m) passing loop near California, Missouri, designed to improve performance along the route.

[11] By 2020, the State of Missouri owed Amtrak $6.5 million in unpaid bills in addition to that year's contract amount for continued service.

[14] Missouri restored full funding in July 2022 amid increased demand for public transit due to high gas prices.

In December 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration accepted an application by MoDOT to enter the St. Joseph–Kansas City route into its Corridor Identification and Development Program.