Can a train ride bring more funding for railways on board? Legislators, mayors, and transpiration executives all met early Monday to experience first hand the problems plaguing Missouri's rail lines. From the very beginning, though, it was a bit of a bumpy ride. Even with some of Missouri's top lawmakers waiting, the St. Louis bound train did not show up as scheduled.

For joyriders like Sandy Nichols and her family, the delay was not a problem.

"It's just a pleasure trip. If I was using it for business, it would certainly matter. But just for pleasure, I don't know that it makes that much difference," said Nichols, train passenger.

Still, delays are one of Missouri rail riders' biggest complaints. The Missouri Department of Transportation partnered with Union Pacific and Amtrak to bring lawmakers along for a ride, hoping the experience would shed light on the problems the railways face.

"We, as a state need to start making investments, with Union Pacific, to increase not only the passenger-rail reliability but the ease of freight movement in Missouri," said Brian Weiler, MoDOT. Rail executives took a few moments en-route to point out particular areas that need improvement.

"We just went through one of our chokepoints between Jeff City and St. Louis which is the bridge over the Osage River," said Tom Mulligan, Union Pacific.

To solve the problems, MoDOT and Amtrak are asking the state to approve a $10.6 million funding increase. They acknowledge their plans come with a big price tag and is placing the responsibility for change in the hands of lawmakers.

"If we want this to be the kind of service Amtrak wants it to be, that MoDOT and the public wants it to be, we're going to have to do some things differently," said Pete Rahn, MoDOT.

The train ride was designed to provide more than just a bit of unconventional fun. It continued on to St. Louis where all parties met for a more formal presentation on the conditions of Missouri's rail lines.