Study: Quad Cities-Chicago Train May Draw 111,000

By Steve Gravelle, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Jan. 8–IOWA CITY — Two trains a day running 79 mph could attract 111,000 riders a year to rail service linking Chicago and the Quad Cities, according to a study released Monday by Amtrak.

A supplemental study is expected later this month on extending the run to Iowa City.

Even the shorter run “would obviously provide some useful service to Iowa, even if it only gets to Moline,” said Eliot Keller of Iowa City, a committee chairman for the Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers. Extending to Iowa City “would be a great boost to the whole transportation system in Iowa and would certainly be an economic boost.” Returning passenger trains to the Quad Cities for the first time in 30 years would require $14 million to $23 million in startup costs and an annual operating subsidy from Illinois of about $6 million, according to Amtrak’s study.

The most promising route would use the BNSF Railway from Chicago to Wyanet, Ill., then the tracks of Cedar Rapids-based Iowa Interstate Railroad into the Moline-Rock Island area, the study says. Service beyond to Iowa City would be on the Iowa Interstate.

The Iowa Interstate runs over tracks formerly operated by the Rock Island Railroad, which went bankrupt and ended operations in 1980. The Rock Island operated the Quad Cities’ last regular passenger service with its “Rocket,” which ceased in 1978.

Iowa Interstate continues to operate freight trains over the former Rock Island line into Chicago, but the Amtrak study estimated that rehabilitating the entire line for passenger service would quadruple costs, attract fewer passengers and result in a trip 90 minutes longer than the three hours and 20 minutes estimated for the joint BNSF-Iowa Interstate route.

“Fast, frequent, shiny new trains — that’s what attracts people,” said Keller. “This makes the most sense. It’s shorter, it’s going to be less expensive to build, it’s going to be faster.” The study includes three levels of possible spending and service. An “as-is” route could be set up for as little as $300,000, but would require a four-hour one-way trip that would attract only about 90,000 passengers a year. A $14.1 million upgrade to 60-mph running speeds would mean a three-hour, 35minute trip that would attract 102,700 riders a year. The highest ridership would come with 79-mph speeds, which would require $22.7 million in improvements.

Monday’s study goes to Illinois legislators, who will decide whether the state will subsidize operating costs that won’t be recovered through passenger fares. Keller said the study gives Iowans an idea of what it would take to extend service to Iowa City and, someday, maybe beyond.

Contact the writer: (319) 398-5819 or steve.gravelle@ gazettecommunications.com

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