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Background
Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) is a privately held corporation founded in 1984 to operate the former
Rock Island routes between Chicago, IL and Omaha, NE in the Midwest USA. Heartland Rail Corporation
purchased the trackage from The Rock Island's trustee to preserve the line as a through route,
making IAIS one of the few regional railroads that connects with every Class 1
railroad at multiple locations. As a result, IAIS creates competition
for its on-line customers to ship and receive their goods to or from
anywhere in North America. Traffic includes containers, forest products,
ethanol, fertilizer, metals, agricultural and dimenstional products i.e.
windmill blades.
IAIS is a 592 mi (954 km) single-track standard
gauge (1,435 mm) regional carrier. IAIS owns and maintains 428 mi (689 km);
leases and maintains approximately 49 mi (79 km); and uses trackage rights
over other carriers of 115 mi (186 km). The main line extends from Council
Bluffs, Iowa to Bureau, Illinois. Trackage rights have been procured between
Bureau to Blue Island, IL over CSX and Metra.
IAIS provides
intermodal facilities at Blue Island, Illinois, and Council Bluffs, Iowa,
and offers access to the Mississippi and Illinois River terminals for rail
to barge or barge to rail service. Transload facilities are also located in
Council Bluffs and Newton, Iowa.
IAIS
purchased a total of 17 new 4400 horsepower GE Evolution Series (ES44AC)
locomotives for their fuel efficiency and maintenance savings. With these
units, IAIS remains competitive and poised for growth. To service and
maintain all power, the "Dennis
H. Miller Locomotive Maintenance Works" shop was constructed in South
Amana, Iowa, in 2012.
Safety is an important component of RDC's
culture and IAIS' persona, and is reflected in IAIS' twice receiving the
Gold Harriman Award
for its excellent safety record.
IAIS is a member of the Association
of American Railroads (AAR)
and the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA).
From 1991 through 2003, IAIS was jointly owned by Heartland Rail Corporation and RDC.
Now IAIS is an affiliate of RDC.
Fast Facts
Length |
592 miles /
954 km |
Principal Power: |
(17) GE AC 4400 units
(17) EMD GP 38-2 units (4) SD 38-2 units (2) slug units |
Intermodal Ramps: |
Blue Island, Illinois,
and Council Bluffs, Iowa |
Traffic: |
containers, ethanol,
fertilizer, metals, intermodal, agricultural and dimensional
products (windmill blades) |
Interchanges: |
UP, BNSF, CSX, NS, CN,
CP, EJE, KCS, CIC, IHB, CRL, TZPR |
Route: |
Main line extends from
Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Bureau, Illinois.Trackage rights have
been procured between Bureau to Blue Island, IL over CSX and
Metra.
Major branch line to Peoria, IL from Bureau, IL
over owned track from Peoria to Henry, IL and leased track
from Henry to Bureau, IL.
Other branch lines owned or
leased: -- Rock Island to Milan, IL -- Altoona, IA stub
-- Des Moines to Grimes, IA -- Hancock Junction to Hancock,
IA |
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