Quad Cities to Chicago rail project could go off the tracks

[TC Nole OX]

The sad thing is that it once existed.

Yep, streetcars too





The distant QC suburb Kewanee once had a streetcar

Streetcars in Kewanee

Streetcars in Kewanee and Galva, Illinois is a 100-page paperback book with over 50 pictures written by the late Fred Rozum. It covers the history of streetcars in Kewanee from 1903 to 1935 and the…

kewanee-history.com

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

Ah yes, the highly demanded Clinton direct to Chicago route. I know locally people have been screaming about being able to get direct to Clinton by rail.

It’s a way to get to Chicago from an area close to the Quad Cities on track that could easily be rated for passenger traffic. Especially if the CN or UP across Iowa came into play. The Iowa Interstate would no longer be necessary. See how easy that is?

 

[ThorneStockton]

It’s a way to get to Chicago from an area close to the Quad Cities on track that could easily be rated for passenger traffic. Especially if the CN or UP across Iowa came into play. The Iowa Interstate would no longer be necessary. See how easy that is?

The Amtrak already goes through Galesburg if you want to get to Chicago from an area close to the Quad Cities on track that is already rated for passenger traffic.

The idea is to connect larger population areas to other large population areas where there is sufficient demand for such travel. It's not just to connect two broad areas by rail just for the sake of it, demand be damned.

I suspect that you - perhaps without admitting it - realize that there is a difference in experience and thus demand between going from the QC into the heart of Chicago, versus going from Clinton to Waukegan, both towns near QC and Chicago.

 

[TC Nole OX]

It’s a way to get to Chicago from an area close to the Quad Cities on track that could easily be rated for passenger traffic. Especially if the CN or UP across Iowa came into play. The Iowa Interstate would no longer be necessary. See how easy that is?

You can currently drive around the same amount of time to Galesburg and take the, 3 times a day, Amtrak service to Chicago. (It was 4 times a day this past summer). It is 48 minutes from Taco John’s in East Moline to Clinton and 51 minutes from TJ’s to Galesburg. If the train is on time, it is 2 hours and 56 minutes to Chicago.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

The Amtrak already goes through Galesburg if you want to get to Chicago from an area close to the Quad Cities on track that is already rated for passenger traffic.

The idea is to connect larger population areas to other large population areas where there is sufficient demand for such travel. It's not just to connect two broad areas by rail just for the sake of it, demand be damned.

I suspect that you - perhaps without admitting it - realize that there is a difference in experience and thus demand between going from the QC into the heart of Chicago, versus going from Clinton to Waukegan, both towns near QC and Chicago.

Forget the Illinois side for a second. If the Iowa Interstate doesn’t play ball, there’s no project, correct? What’s the next best option? That’s where the UP and CN come into play.

 

[ThorneStockton]

Forget the Illinois side for a second. If the Iowa Interstate doesn’t play ball, there’s no project, correct? What’s the next best option? That’s where the UP and CN come into play.

I suspect there isn't a next best option. The value - which reasonable people can debate - is connecting urban areas where there is a demand. If that's not feasible to do. The next best option isn't settling for a rural town 40 miles away, because the whole value proposition is completely twisted. I suspect it's either do it to the areas that at least arguably make sense, or you don't do it at all.

 

[torbee]

Interesting. I guess I’m left wondering why the Iowa Interstate is resisting upgrading their main if so much funding is already being offered to complete the task? I assume the section of track in question runs between Iowa City and Davenport?

They see it as an opportunity to use tax dollars to upgrade the ENTIRE line, rather than just the section needed to connect at Wyanet. In this case, it’s the government trying to be a better steward of tax dollars and the for-profit corporation trying to use corporate welfare to have the public fund its private needs.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

I suspect there isn't a next best option. The value - which reasonable people can debate - is connecting urban areas where there is a demand. If that's not feasible to do. The next best option isn't settling for a rural town 40 miles away, because the whole value proposition is completely twisted. I suspect it's either do it to the areas that at least arguably make sense, or you don't do it at all.

There are probably a lot of people in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo who would love to have passenger rail service to Chicago. That’s all possible through Beverly Yard in CR and along the UP. With so much money available for upgrades, the CN’s newly acquired Iowa Northern track south from Waterloo could become available. Heck, even the CRANDIC line from Iowa City north to CR could come into play.

Again, I’m wondering why the Iowa Interstate doesn’t want to cooperate?

 

[ThorneStockton]

There are probably a lot of people in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo who would love to have passenger rail service to Chicago. That’s all possible through Beverly Yard in CR and along the UP. With so much money available for upgrades, the CN’s newly acquired Iowa Northern track south from Waterloo could become available. Heck, even the CRANDIC line from Iowa City north to CR could come into play.

Again, I’m wondering why the Iowa Interstate doesn’t want to cooperate?

I don't know all the assumptions or the key players, selfishly I wish there was rail service from Chicago through the QC, to Iowa City and to Des Moines.

What I always thought made the most sense was to shift the current Amtrak California Zephyr line from traversing the rural southern 1/3 of Iowa of Burlington - Mt Pleasant - Ottumwa - Osceola - Creston - Omaha to be something like QC - Iowa City - Grinnell - Des Moines - Omaha.

You know, take a current route and move it to where the people are, but obviously there's got to be lots of financial issues, political issues, property issues that make it not so simple to do so.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

They see it as an opportunity to use tax dollars to upgrade the ENTIRE line, rather than just the section needed to connect at Wyanet. In this case, it’s the government trying to be a better steward of tax dollars and the for-profit corporation trying to use corporate welfare to have the public fund its private needs.

Well, the word on the street where I’m at is that the Iowa Interstate may soon be purchased by a Class 1 railroad. If that occurred, their main would have to be beefed up to accommodate more trains and higher tonnage, including the section you mentioned. That would leave plenty of tax dollars available for the necessary signal, siding and depot upgrades over that short route to link Amtrak to the Quad Cities.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

I don't know all the assumptions or the key players, selfishly I wish there was rail service from Chicago through the QC, to Iowa City and to Des Moines.

What I always thought made the most sense was to shift the current Amtrak California Zephyr line from traversing the rural southern 1/3 of Iowa of Burlington - Mt Pleasant - Ottumwa - Osceola - Creston - Omaha to be something like QC - Iowa City - Grinnell - Des Moines - Omaha.

You know, take a current route and move it to where the people are, but obviously there's got to be lots of financial issues, political issues, property issues that make it not so simple to do so.

Some good news pertaining to expanding passenger and freight rail maps in the future is that a lot of desirable links that don’t exist today used to exist. Those grades are still there and can be built again relatively easily. Much easier than starting new!

 

[torbee]

Well, the word on the street where I’m at is that the Iowa Interstate may soon be purchased by a Class 1 railroad. If that occurred, their main would have to be beefed up to accommodate more trains and higher tonnage, including the section you mentioned. That would leave plenty of tax dollars available for the necessary signal, siding and depot upgrades over that short route to link Amtrak to the Quad Cities.

I hope the sale goes through and the new entity is willing to negotiate in good faith unlike Iowa-Interstate.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

I hope the sale goes through and the new entity is willing to negotiate in good faith unlike Iowa-Interstate.

I think it would be a win for all involved.