Rail passenger service in Iowa is currently provided by Amtrak on the California Zephyr from Chicago to Oakland, Calif., and the Southwestern Chief from Chicago to Los Angeles. For information and reservations, see  Amtrak's website, call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL or contact your local travel agent.
Route Name
California Zephyr
The California Zephyr operates over the BNSF Railway Co. (BNSF) tracks in southern Iowa, providing daily trips in both directions. Stations include:
- Burlington
- Mount Pleasant
- Ottumwa
- Osceola
- Creston
Southwest Chief
The Southwest Chief also operates daily in both directions over the BNSF tracks in extreme southeast Iowa, with one stop in Fort Madison, Historic Santa Fe Station.
Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Documents before 2015 including: funding applications, business plans, and planning studies for passenger rail initiatives from Chicago to Council-Bluffs and Omaha, Iowa City Intercity Passenger Rail, Quad Cities, Midwest Regional Rail and more can be made available by contacting the Iowa DOT Rail Office.
Chicago to Iowa City Passenger Rail Fact Sheet
2009
- October: Initial environmental studies complete
2010
- October: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) jointly awards $230 million to Iowa and Illinois
2011
- October: Iowa and Illinois ask FRA to split award into phases
- December: FRA committed $177 to Illinois for Phase 1
2013
- December: Iowa completed conceptual design and updated cost estimates for Phase 2
2014
- September: FRA committed $5 million for preliminary engineering and detailed environmental studies for Phase 2
2018
- FRA committed $5 million for preliminary engineering and detailed environmental studies for Phase 2