Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition

Amtrak Completes Chicago to Quad Cities, Quad Cities to Iowa City Feasibility Studies
The Quad Cities is the first major stop along the most highly populated corridor without Amtrak service to Chicago. Plans to expand service from Chicago to the Quad Cities include continued service from the Quad Cities to Iowa City, Des Moines, and Omaha. With 10.2 million people living in the corridor’s major metropolitan areas, the total ridership is expected to skyrocket with each additional stop. Amtrak forecasts the Quad Cities to have annual ridership over 110,000 between the Quad Cities and Chicago. When service is extended from the Quad Cities to Iowa City, ridership to/from Chicago jumps to 187,000 annually. This route will have a large impact on the success of the Midwest Passenger Rail Hub Network based in Chicago. The proposed Chicago-Quad Cities-Iowa City Amtrak route is ready to implement once funding is secured. Infrastructure improvements are expected to be completed and service initiated within 2 years of funding. Quad Cities - Chicago Amtrak Route Details (View the Quad Cities Amtrak Feasibility Study) In January 2007, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin raised awareness of the effort to restore passenger rail in the Quad Cities by facilitating Illinois DOT’s request for Amtrak to study service from Chicago to the Quad Cities. In February 2007, IDOT requested Amtrak conduct a feasibility study for the Quad Cities to Chicago route, which was completed in January 2008. The Amtrak feasibility study analyzes passenger rail service between the Quad Cities to Chicago, including route analysis, construction cost, ridership estimates, running time, revenue, and operating expenses. The Amtrak feasibility report identified the shortest and most direct route for 2 daily roundtrip departures from the Quad Cities and Chicago. Preferred Route: 79mph service on Quad Cities-Naperville-Chicago via IAIS-BNSF-Amtrak Capital Cost: $22.7 million Annual Ridership: 110,800 Running Time (Quad Cities to Chicago): 3 hours, 20 minutes Rolling Stock: $4.2 million (2 train cars) State Operating Cost: $6 million Quad Cities - Iowa City Amtrak Route Details (View the Iowa City Amtrak Feasibility Study) Shortly after Amtrak began the Chicago to Quad Cities feasibility study, the Iowa Department of Transportation requested the study be extended to examine passenger rail service to Iowa City. Amtrak completed the Iowa City study in April 2008. The Amtrak feasibility report identified the shortest and most direct route for 2 daily roundtrip departures from the Quad Cities and Iowa City via IAIS. Preferred Route: 79mph service on IAIS Capital Cost: $32.5 million Annual Ridership: 76,100 Running Time (Iowa City to Quad Cities): 1 hour, 38 minutes Rolling Stock: $1.4 million (a third train car will be added when service extends to Iowa City) State Operating Cost: $6 million (from Chicago to Iowa City - Cost will be shared between Illinois and Iowa) Chicago to Quad Cities, Iowa City, Des Moines, Council Bluffs/Omaha Intercity passenger rail service from Chicago to Omaha (via Quad Cities, Iowa City and Des Moines) will increase the success of the Midwest passenger rail network. Plans are underway to make this a reality as Amtrak is currently working on a feasibility study to extend service from Iowa City to Des Moines.

Amtrak Completes Chicago to Quad Cities, Quad Cities to Iowa City Feasibility Studies

The Quad Cities is the first major stop along the most highly populated corridor without Amtrak service to Chicago. Plans to expand service from Chicago to the Quad Cities include continued service from the Quad Cities to Iowa City, Des Moines, and Omaha. With 10.2 million people living in the corridor’s major metropolitan areas, the total ridership is expected to skyrocket with each additional stop. Amtrak forecasts the Quad Cities to have annual ridership over 110,000 between the Quad Cities and Chicago. When service is extended from the Quad Cities to Iowa City, ridership to/from Chicago jumps to 187,000 annually. This route will have a large impact on the success of the Midwest Passenger Rail Hub Network based in Chicago.

The proposed Chicago-Quad Cities-Iowa City Amtrak route is ready to implement once funding is secured. Infrastructure improvements are expected to be completed and service initiated within 2 years of funding.

Quad Cities - Chicago Amtrak Route Details (View the Quad Cities Amtrak Feasibility Study)
In January 2007, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin raised awareness of the effort to restore passenger rail in the Quad Cities by facilitating Illinois DOT’s request for Amtrak to study service from Chicago to the Quad Cities. In February 2007, IDOT requested Amtrak conduct a feasibility study for the Quad Cities to Chicago route, which was completed in January 2008. The Amtrak feasibility study analyzes passenger rail service between the Quad Cities to Chicago, including route analysis, construction cost, ridership estimates, running time, revenue, and operating expenses.

The Amtrak feasibility report identified the shortest and most direct route for 2 daily roundtrip departures from the Quad Cities and Chicago.
Preferred Route: 79mph service on Quad Cities-Naperville-Chicago via IAIS-BNSF-Amtrak

Capital Cost: $22.7 million
Annual Ridership: 110,800
Running Time (Quad Cities to Chicago): 3 hours, 20 minutes
Rolling Stock: $4.2 million (2 train cars)
State Operating Cost: $6 million

Quad Cities - Iowa City Amtrak Route Details (View the Iowa City Amtrak Feasibility Study)
Shortly after Amtrak began the Chicago to Quad Cities feasibility study, the Iowa Department of Transportation requested the study be extended to examine passenger rail service to Iowa City. Amtrak completed the Iowa City study in April 2008.

The Amtrak feasibility report identified the shortest and most direct route for 2 daily roundtrip departures from the Quad Cities and Iowa City via IAIS.
Preferred Route: 79mph service on IAIS

Capital Cost: $32.5 million
Annual Ridership: 76,100
Running Time (Iowa City to Quad Cities): 1 hour, 38 minutes
Rolling Stock: $1.4 million (a third train car will be added when service extends to Iowa City)
State Operating Cost: $6 million (from Chicago to Iowa City - Cost will be shared between Illinois and Iowa)

Chicago to Quad Cities, Iowa City, Des Moines, Council Bluffs/Omaha
Intercity passenger rail service from Chicago to Omaha (via Quad Cities, Iowa City and Des Moines) will increase the success of the Midwest passenger rail network. Plans are underway to make this a reality as Amtrak is currently working on a feasibility study to extend service from Iowa City to Des Moines.