Dec. 14, 2004

For more information contact:
Office of Rail Transportation
515-237-1140

 Iowa joins other Midwest states to confirm the
viability of regional high-speed rail services

AMES, Iowa – The nine Midwest states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin today released an executive report on the Midwest Regional Rail System (MWRRS).  This document updates a February 2000 report and confirms the viability of the MWRRS plan for a 3,000-mile Midwest passenger rail network radiating from Chicago.

“This plan update is a continuation of the work that began in 1996 and outlines what it will take to develop an efficient passenger rail system for the Midwest.” said Iowa Department of Transportation Director Mark Wandro.

The MWRRS will provide a safe, reliable, comfortable, and convenient service using modern trains traveling at speeds of up to 110 mph (largely in existing rail corridors).  The route through Iowa will be designed for conventional 79 mph speeds.  The MWRRS is expected to carry an estimated 13.6 million passengers annually by 2025, and provide downtown-to-downtown connections for business and leisure travelers.

The plan update incorporates new and refined ridership forecasts, and operating and capital cost estimates. The plan’s proposed implementation covers a 10-year period with a total capital cost of $7.7 billion in 2002 dollars, which does not consider future cost inflation. The costs include $6.6 billion for track and signal improvements, and $1.1 billion for state-of-the-art train equipment. This investment will result in the creation of 2,000 permanent rail-related jobs and 8,000 temporary construction jobs. 

“This is an incremental and phased plan for improved passenger rail service, however it will require significant federal funding for it to be implemented,” Director Wandro said.  “We are continuing our efforts with the other Midwest states to encourage Congressional action on passenger rail funding.”

The planned route from Chicago to Omaha (with a branch to Quincy, Illinois) is estimated to cost $638 million and would connect through Davenport, Iowa City, Newton, Des Moines, and Atlantic.  The planned route would utilize the current Iowa Interstate Railroad route through Iowa and connect to the existing Burlington Northern - Sante Fe railroad near Wyanet, Illinois.  “We’ll need to work closely with the railroads to implement this type of service,” said Wandro.

The plan calls for five round-trips per day between Chicago and Des Moines and would include inter-connecting bus service to Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Fort Dodge and Sioux City.  The entire Chicago/Omaha/Quincy corridor is expected to carry 1.26 million riders when fully implemented. While the route would require operating funds to support it through a start-up period and beyond, it is expected to become self-sufficient within 12 years of system completion.

Copies of the MWRRS Executive Report are available at: www.iowarail.com.

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