8th & Pine station
| Company type | Light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | St. Louis , United States |
| Products | MetroLink Red and Blue lines service |
8th & Pine station serves as an underground light rail stop on both the Red and Blue routes within the St. Louis MetroLink network. Positioned beneath the intersection of 8th and Pine streets, it lies in the heart of St. Louis' Central Business District.
History
The station was developed inside the historic Downtown Tunnel, which dates back to 1874 and originally linked the Eads Bridge with the rail yards in Mill Creek Valley. This tunnel ceased its function following the final Amtrak service in 1974. Beginning in 1991, the tunnel underwent restoration to accommodate the launch of MetroLink in 1993, facilitating transit connections between Illinois and Missouri through downtown St. Louis.
On April 8, 2024, Metro Transit temporarily suspended operations at 8th & Pine to undertake cleaning and renovation efforts. The modernization work involved replacing outdated escalators, constructing new stairways, and upgrading lighting and signage throughout the station. Although initially planned as a three-month closure, unforeseen structural complications uncovered during escalator removal extended the timeline. Throughout this period, a shuttle bus service operated between 8th & Pine and the Civic Center station to maintain passenger connectivity. The station resumed service on December 16, 2024.
Station layout
Access to the westbound platform is available through an entrance at 800 Pine Street, along with subway stairs situated across Pine Street. For the eastbound platform, entry points include an entrance within the Laclede Gas Building and subway stairs positioned on 8th Street close to Chestnut.
Notable places nearby
Visitors to Gateway Arch National Park are encouraged to utilize this station or the Laclede's Landing station for convenient public transit connections. Additional significant sites in the vicinity comprise:
- Citygarden
- Downtown St. Louis
- Gateway Mall
- Kiener Plaza
- Old Courthouse
- United States Customhouse and Post Office
- Wainwright Building