Saint Louis Metrolink — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets (2024)

The St. Louis Metro, or MetroLink, which operates within the state of Missouri, is a light rail system with both underground and surface stations. The system consists of two lines, extends over 74 kilometres (46 miles) and includes 37 stations.

The MetroLink, which carries an average of 53,123 commuters daily, opened on 31 July 1993 with only 16 stations along a 22-kilometre (14-mile) route. Since its inauguration, four extensions covering 52.1 kilometres (32 miles) have been added, with new stations along these extended lines. A standard one-way trip on the MetroLink, which is integrated with MetroBus fares, costs $2.50. Timetables run from 4:00 am to between 12:00 am and 2:00 am for both lines.

This transit system, commonly referred to as ‘Metrolink’, serves approximately 61,573 passengers per day. The fare is $2.50. Unfortunately, the Metrolink does not run 24 hours a day and does not have air conditioning. Passengers are not allowed to walk between platforms and the trains are not driverless. There are also no screen doors on the platforms.

The Metrolink travels at an average speed of 89 km/h with a top speed of 105 km/h. The system is operated by Metro, also known as the Bi-State Development Agency. Operating hours are from 4:14am to 12:57am Monday to Friday and from 5:08am to 12:57am on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The fare is $2. For more information, visit the Saint Louis Metro Official Website.

St. Louis Metro Map

Map of Saint Louis Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it.

The City of St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, a city in Missouri, United States, is home to 348,189 people spread over 171.3 square kilometres (106 miles). Situated on the Mississippi River, the city was founded on 15 February 1764 under French rule and has the river as a distinct boundary separating it from the state of Illinois.

MetroLink operates two main lines, the Red Line and the Blue Line. The Red Line is 61.1 kilometres (38 miles) long and serves 28 stations, starting from the Lambert Street Louis International Airport station. Conversely, the Blue Line is 39 kilometres (24 miles) long, has 24 stations and starts at Shrewsbury Station. Both lines intersect at Forest Park-DeBaliviere station.

The MetroLink has a fleet of 87 light rail vehicles, including 31 SD-400 series trains and 56 SD-460 series trains. Each 27-metre-long train has four high-level boarding doors and accommodates 72 seated and 106 standing passengers.

Both lines are operated by the Bi-State Development Agency dba Metro Transit, created by an interstate compact between Missouri and Illinois. The agency took control in 2003 and oversees the St. Louis Metro, which is ranked as the eleventh largest light rail system in the United States.

Historical Highlights

As one of the most influential cities in the United States, the growth of St. Louis led to an increase in transport infrastructure. The construction of roads, highways and railways in the 1960s set the city on the path to modernisation.

By the 1960s, public transportation was run by 15 independent companies that operated streetcars and bus lines. The confusion and mismanagement eventually led to a standstill due to problems such as lack of transfer points, organisational disarray and rising fares, causing economic instability. To alleviate this, the authorities turned management over to the Bi-State Development Agency in 1963, paving the way for a more organised transport system for St Louis and Illinois.

Construction of the MetroLink light rail system began in 1990, using miles of existing rail in the area. Three years later, MetroLink began operating with three fare-free days for the St. Louis region, carrying 180,000 passengers.

The initial system connected 16 stations over 22 kilometres (14 miles), from St. Louis County in Missouri to St. Clair County in Illinois. The initial success of the system led to several extensions and the construction of a new line in 1998.

To date, the two lines consist of 37 stations. In addition to ongoing system expansion projects, new strategies are being developed to further integrate the bus system.

Lines and stations

The St. Louis Metro consists of two lines with a total of 37 stations, including 13 on the Red Line, 9 on the Blue Line and 15 stations on both lines. The Bi-State Development Agency manages the city’s entire transit system.

Line 1

Recognisable by its red colour, this was the first line of the St. Louis Metro system. It opened in 1993 with 16 stations and a 22 kilometre (14 mile) extension between North Hanley and 5th & Missouri Street. The current 38 mile (61.1 km) line has 28 stations, 13 of which are on the Red Line. It runs from Lambert International Airport station to Shiloh-Scott. A rider on the Red Line can enjoy the artwork of the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center or use the Stadium Station to watch the St. Louis Cardinals play at Busch Stadium.

Stations served by the Red Line are Lambert Airport Terminal 1, Lambert Airport Terminal 2, North Hanley, UMSL-North, UMSL-South, Rock Road, Delmar Loop, Forest Park-DeBaliviere, Central West End, Grand, Union Station, Civic Center, Stadium, 8th & Pine, Convention Center, Lacledes’s Landing, East River Front, 5th & Missouri, Emerson Park, Jackie Joyner – Kersee Center, Washington Park, Fairview Heights, Memorial Hospital, Swansea, Belleville, College and Shiloh-Scott.

Line 2

Identified by its blue colour, this line was annexed from the St. Louis Metro in 2006. It was inaugurated with 24 stations, 9 of which belong to the Blue Line only, and an extension of 38.6 kilometres (24 miles) with a route between Forest Park-DeBaliviere to Shrewsbury-Lansdown I-44 via Clayton, Missouri. This line is one of the busiest due to the proximity of the Richmond Heights station to the famous Saint Louis Galleria shopping centre.

Stations served by the Blue Line are Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I -44, Sunnen, Maplewood- Manchester, Brentwood I-64, Richmond Heights, Clayton, Forsyth, University City-Big Bend, Skinker, Forest Park-DeBaliviere, Central West End, Grand, Union Station, Civic Center, Stadium, 8th & Pine, Convention Center, Lacledes’s Landing, East River Front, 5th & Missouri, Emerson Park, Jackie Joyner – Kersee Center, Washington Park and Fairview Heights.

Connections with other systems

The St. Louis Metro seems to be expanding in stages, thanks to various rail expansion projects. This has created a transportation system in the city where each service complements the other. A nexus that helps every Missourian reach their destination safely, comfortably and conveniently. One such system is MetroBus. It includes 2 state routes (in Missouri and Illinois) with more than 83 routes connecting to MetroLink’s Red and Blue Lines.

There is also a service called Call-A-Ride, which provides a comfortable ride for passengers with disabilities that limit their access to regular service. Call-A-Ride is also available to the general public. Disabled passengers can also travel to their destination in modern, wheelchair-accessible vehicles for $4. The system covers just over 35 areas of the city.

Airport Connections

St. Louis has a single airport, St. Louis International Airport, located 11 miles (17.7 kilometres) northwest of downtown between interstates I-70, 170 and 270. The largest and busiest airport in the state, it offers more than 255 daily flights to 90 domestic and international destinations and serves approximately 13 million passengers annually. More than 14 airlines currently operate out of the airport. To improve accessibility, connections have been made to the city’s primary transportation services.

St. Louis Lambert International Airport has two metro stations: Lambert Airport Terminal 1 Station and Lambert Airport Terminal 2 Station. Both are connected to the city’s transit network via the Red Line. Direct service from St. Louis to Clayton and the Illinois suburbs is available on the MetroLink lines.

Schedules and Frequencies

Both MetroLink lines serve 15 stations with similar timetables. Stations on these lines open at either 4:00am or 5:00am and close between 1:00am and 2:00am. Trains on both lines run every 15 to 25 minutes from east to west.

The MetroLink has different schedules on public holidays. While services are suspended on certain occasions, reduced service hours are implemented on others. These holidays include Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), President’s Day (22 February), Independence Day (4 July), Labour Day (first Monday in September), Veterans Day (11 November), Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) and Christmas Day (25 December).

Fares, Tickets, and Cards

The St. Louis Metro fare system is integrated throughout the city’s transportation network. One of the most commonly used and recommended tickets is the single trip pass, which costs $2.50. This ticket can be validated at any of the validation machines located on each platform.

Other payment options include daily, weekly and monthly passes. A day pass, priced at $7.50, allows unlimited use of the train and bus system for a single day. The weekly pass, which costs $27, allows unlimited travel on the metro and bus system for a week. The monthly pass, which costs $78, allows unlimited travel on the metro system for a month.

Fares are halved for passengers aged 65 and over, children aged 5 to 12, and passengers with disabilities or medical conditions. Children under the age of 4 travel free.

Future Plans and Extensions

MetroLink continues to plan for the future with several expansion projects currently underway. Some of these projects include:

Daniel Boone Corridor – Clayton to Westport

Based on expert recommendations, a new MetroLink line is proposed from Clayton, Missouri, to Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights. This line would be 8-10 miles (13-15 kilometres) long and add six stations between Clayton and Maryland Heights.

MetroNorth Corridor – Clayton to Florissant

This project aims to extend the Blue Line from Clayton to North County and then to Florissant. The proposed route is 12 miles (19 kilometres) long and follows the old Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis.

MetroSouth Corridor – Shrewsbury to Butler Hill

This project proposes to extend the Blue Line from Shrewsbury into South County to Butler Hill Road. This project would add approximately 12 miles (19 kilometres) to the subway’s Blue Line.

North-South MetroLink Corridor – Downtown-Goodfellow & I-70 to St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley

This 19-kilometre (12-mile) extension would run north from downtown St. Louis to St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley. The extension study was completed in 2008 and a local alternative was selected.

SouthSide Corridor – Downtown-Bayless to Butler Hill

In 2008, an agreement was reached to extend the route of the light rail trains. The revised route would extend 14 to 27 kilometres (9 to 17 miles) from the Multi-Modal Transit Centre south to the Bayless Terminal.

System Regulations

Eating and drinking are not allowed on the metro.
Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is strictly prohibited in carriages and on platforms.
Seats should be reserved for elderly and disabled passengers.
It is forbidden to carry firearms on the metro.
Pets are not allowed, except for service animals accompanying disabled passengers.

Tips

If you plan to use the MetroBus service, consider purchasing a 2-hour MetroLink pass for $3. This pass gives you unlimited use of both systems for 2 hours.
If you have several errands to run throughout the day, consider purchasing a Day Pass. This ticket costs $7.50 and offers unlimited use of all MetroLink and MetroBus services for 24 hours.
Make sure your ticket is validated. If your ticket does not have a timestamp, visit one of the red validation machines located on each MetroLink platform. Failure to validate could result in a fine.
Follow the signs. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to ask Metro staff for help.

Notable Facts

MetroLink is the twelfth busiest light rail system in the United States.
It is the eleventh largest light rail system in the country.
The MetroLink carries approximately 523,123 passengers daily.

Points of Interest Accessible via the St. Louis Metro

Busch Stadium: Home of the St. Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium hosted its first Major League Baseball game on 10 April 2006. With a seating capacity of 46,861, the stadium is accessible via the Stadium stop on both the Blue and Red lines.

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis: This Catholic cathedral, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, was dedicated in 1914. The cathedral is world famous for its impressive mosaics, crypts and a sculpture symbolising racial harmony. To visit, take the Metro to Central West End station and walk along North Taylor Avenue.

Gateway Arch: This iconic monument symbolises America’s westward expansion. Designed by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, it is the tallest man-made structure in the United States. To visit the Gateway Arch, take the Metro to Arch-Laclede’s Landing and walk the Gateway Arch Trail.

Missouri History Museum: Founded in 1866, this museum in Forest Park showcases the region’s colonial and native artefacts. To visit, take the Metro on either line to the Forest Park – DeBaliviere station. The museum is located just outside the station.