Union Pacific Railroad and the Chicago & North Western Transportation Co., which merged in 1995, have been part of the Iowa landscape since the 1850s. Today, UP's rail network stretches across the state, with its primary east-west main line serving as a vital corridor connecting Chicago to the West Coast. The north-south "Spine Line," which runs through Des Moines and Mason City, links Minneapolis-St. Paul with Kansas City, further enhancing the railroad's regional connectivity. UP operates an extensive branch line network in northwest Iowa, supporting local industries and communities.

Commodities

A pie chart illustrating a breakdown of sectors. The distribution is as follows: Coal 12%, Farm Products 20%, Miscellaneous Mixed Shipments 1%, Food and Kindred Products 34%, Chemical and Allied Products 27%, and Other 6%

Union Pacific Railroad (UP) Contacts

Website 
Emergency number: 888-877-7267
Corporate HQ: 1400 Douglas St., Omaha, NE 68179
Phone: 402-544-5000

UP in Iowa

  • Miles of track owned/leased/serviced in Iowa: 1,278
  • Miles operated under trackage rights in Iowa: 275
  • Employees in Iowa: 1,528

Transloading Locations

Transloading Locations
A-CD-MS-W
Altoona, IADes Moines, IAShell Rock, IA
Camanche, IAEmery, IASioux City, IA
Cedar Rapids, IAFairfax, IAWaterloo, IA
Clinton, IAHawarden, IAOmaha, NE
Council Bluffs, IAManly, IA 
 Mason City, IA 

Intermodal

Council Bluffs, IA

Railroad Interchanges

Railroad Interchanges
LocationRailroad Interchange
Boone
  • BSV (Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad)
Cedar Rapids
  • CIC (Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Railway)
  • CN (Canadian National)
  • IANR (Iowa Northern Railway)
Clinton
  • CPKC (Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway)
Council Bluffs
  • CN (Canadian National)
  • IAIS (Iowa Interstate Railroad)
Des Moines
  • IAIS (Iowa Interstate Railroad)
  • NS (Norfolk Southern Railway)
Emmetsburg
  • KJRY (Keokuk Junction Railway)
Fort Madison
  • KJRY (Keokuk Junction Railway)
Iowa Falls
  • CN (Canadian National Railway)
Manly
  • IANR (Iowa Northern Railway)
Mason City
  • CPKC (Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway)
  • IATR (Iowa Traction Railway)
Sheldon
  • CPKC (Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway)
Sioux City
  • CN (Canadian National Railway)
Waterloo
  • CN (Canadian National)
  • DAIR (Dakota & Iowa Railroad)