The Loop Trolley is running—and this is where you can ride it

The streetcar makes 10 stops, starting west on Delmar, snaking east and south to DeBaliviere, though it was only making those on the east side on Friday.

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The Loop Trolley, St. Louis' first trolley system in more than 60 years, was set to finally—after years of work and delays—roll out on Thursday. But an early season snowstorm that dumped 6 inches (and in some areas more) on the city held up the streetcar's first run by one day more. Trolley officials and Joe Edwards, who came up with the idea originally, held an invite-only dedication at Delmar Hall on Thursday.

But Friday, the trolley began service...though it was only running from the the Delmar Loop MetroLink station to the Missouri History Museum due to a permit issue. (As a bonus, riders got free fare.) Friday afternoon, the scene on Delmar Loop was a little sleepy—with intermittent trolley cars passing along the line. "Are you picking up people?" SLM asked a friendly driver. "Absolutely!" he responded. "Park your car and hop on."

The streetcar will eventually make 10 stops along a 2.2-mile-long track on Delmar and DeBaliviere, running every 20 to 30 minutes. The stops are: University City Library, Leland Avenue, the city limit (right before Skinker), The Pageant, the Delmar Loop MetroLink, Hamilton Avenue, Delmar and DeBaliviere (the first stop on DeBaliviere), Crossroads School, Forest Park/DeBaliviere MetroLink, and the Missouri History Museum/Forest Park.

Here's a Google map showing all the trolley stops: 

Thursdays and Sundays, the streetcar will operate from noon to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, the trolley will run from noon to 11 p.m.

Trolley tickets can be purchased with either cash or card at the station platform vending machines. Two bucks gets you two-hour fare; ride all day for $5. Originally there was a trolley app planned for mobile payments; officials hope it will be ready in the coming months. 

There have been several criticisms against the trolley. First, that it services a route where there's already MetroLink stops. It has also hit a couple of parked cars, and you must have exact change to pay for the tickets. If you overpay, you'll get a ticket that can be mailed in for a refund. 

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