Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers
@iowarail.bsky.social
Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers (IARP) was formed in 1981 as a voice for Iowa rail passengers
https://www.iowarail.org/
https://www.iowarail.org/
Iowa transit ridership for September. We've got gains across the board, with Sioux City surprisingly having the highest growth. Statewide ridership is now at 85% of pre-Covid levels (currently only 80% nationally).
November 8, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Iowa transit ridership for September. We've got gains across the board, with Sioux City surprisingly having the highest growth. Statewide ridership is now at 85% of pre-Covid levels (currently only 80% nationally).
Monthly and annual ridership numbers for Amtrak. Capping off a strong fiscal year with yet another ridership gain.
Thank you to everyone who has ridden Amtrak over the past year. Here's to another good year in front of us.
Thank you to everyone who has ridden Amtrak over the past year. Here's to another good year in front of us.
November 8, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Monthly and annual ridership numbers for Amtrak. Capping off a strong fiscal year with yet another ridership gain.
Thank you to everyone who has ridden Amtrak over the past year. Here's to another good year in front of us.
Thank you to everyone who has ridden Amtrak over the past year. Here's to another good year in front of us.
Reposted by Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has been handed a letter written by Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) - and backed up by 16 of their colleagues - to conduct a "rigorous and comprehensive" review of the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.
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November 5, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has been handed a letter written by Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) - and backed up by 16 of their colleagues - to conduct a "rigorous and comprehensive" review of the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.
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34,471,000
Amtrak has closed out fiscal year 2025 with a new ridership record! Here’s to another one in 2026.
Amtrak has closed out fiscal year 2025 with a new ridership record! Here’s to another one in 2026.
November 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
34,471,000
Amtrak has closed out fiscal year 2025 with a new ridership record! Here’s to another one in 2026.
Amtrak has closed out fiscal year 2025 with a new ridership record! Here’s to another one in 2026.
Illinois' SB 2111 set up a dedicated fund for intercity rail projects, which is authorized for up to $342 million annually. If Iowa had the same funding per capita, we would have $87 million annually for intercity rail.
Instead we have $0. Imagine what we could do with $87 million.
Instead we have $0. Imagine what we could do with $87 million.
November 3, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Illinois' SB 2111 set up a dedicated fund for intercity rail projects, which is authorized for up to $342 million annually. If Iowa had the same funding per capita, we would have $87 million annually for intercity rail.
Instead we have $0. Imagine what we could do with $87 million.
Instead we have $0. Imagine what we could do with $87 million.
TRANSIT BILL PASSES IN ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE
At 4:20 AM, the Illinois Senate passed SB 2111 by a 36-21 vote, needing 30 votes to pass. With the bill having passed the Illinois House earlier this morning, the bill will head to the Governor for his signature.
At 4:20 AM, the Illinois Senate passed SB 2111 by a 36-21 vote, needing 30 votes to pass. With the bill having passed the Illinois House earlier this morning, the bill will head to the Governor for his signature.
October 31, 2025 at 9:22 AM
TRANSIT BILL PASSES IN ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE
At 4:20 AM, the Illinois Senate passed SB 2111 by a 36-21 vote, needing 30 votes to pass. With the bill having passed the Illinois House earlier this morning, the bill will head to the Governor for his signature.
At 4:20 AM, the Illinois Senate passed SB 2111 by a 36-21 vote, needing 30 votes to pass. With the bill having passed the Illinois House earlier this morning, the bill will head to the Governor for his signature.
SB 2111 has PASSED the Illinois House of Representatives. The vote was 72-32, 71 votes were needed to pass.
On to the Senate.
On to the Senate.
October 31, 2025 at 7:18 AM
SB 2111 has PASSED the Illinois House of Representatives. The vote was 72-32, 71 votes were needed to pass.
On to the Senate.
On to the Senate.
As of 2 AM Friday morning, the Illinois veto session is not yet over. SB 2111 is STILL being debated in the House.
October 31, 2025 at 7:00 AM
As of 2 AM Friday morning, the Illinois veto session is not yet over. SB 2111 is STILL being debated in the House.
It is now 10 PM, and the amended version of SB 2111 has just been filed. Still needs to get through both houses, but there's finally movement on the bill after over 2 hours since the last news update.
October 31, 2025 at 3:02 AM
It is now 10 PM, and the amended version of SB 2111 has just been filed. Still needs to get through both houses, but there's finally movement on the bill after over 2 hours since the last news update.
A new funding proposal is being proposed in the Illinois GA for the Chicago transit package. The new funding package would revolve around revenue from fuel taxes, interest from the state road fund, and an RTA tax increase.
No official amendments to SB 2111 yet, so stay tuned.
No official amendments to SB 2111 yet, so stay tuned.
October 31, 2025 at 1:02 AM
A new funding proposal is being proposed in the Illinois GA for the Chicago transit package. The new funding package would revolve around revenue from fuel taxes, interest from the state road fund, and an RTA tax increase.
No official amendments to SB 2111 yet, so stay tuned.
No official amendments to SB 2111 yet, so stay tuned.
The Illinois House of Representatives will start today’s session at 2 PM. A bill to fund Chicago transit/Amtrak to Moline, SB 2111, is on the calendar.
October 29, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The Illinois House of Representatives will start today’s session at 2 PM. A bill to fund Chicago transit/Amtrak to Moline, SB 2111, is on the calendar.
Illinois’ veto session finishes this week, with the session running Tuesday-Thursday. Funding for Chicago transit + Amtrak to Moline still up in the air. An important week ahead for passenger rail in Illinois, and for the future of the Chicago-Omaha rail corridor.
October 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Illinois’ veto session finishes this week, with the session running Tuesday-Thursday. Funding for Chicago transit + Amtrak to Moline still up in the air. An important week ahead for passenger rail in Illinois, and for the future of the Chicago-Omaha rail corridor.
The Kansas City Streetcar extension begins service today.
Kansas City Streetcar Main Street Extension opens Friday
The extension creates a true north-south connection, rebuilt for modern Kansas City transportation needs.
www.kctv5.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:50 AM
The Kansas City Streetcar extension begins service today.
Here are some parking/travel notes for people coming to our meeting on Saturday.
We will be on the 2nd floor of DART Central Station, so just take the stairs or elevator upstairs and you should be able to come out right next to our meeting room.
We will be on the 2nd floor of DART Central Station, so just take the stairs or elevator upstairs and you should be able to come out right next to our meeting room.
October 23, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Here are some parking/travel notes for people coming to our meeting on Saturday.
We will be on the 2nd floor of DART Central Station, so just take the stairs or elevator upstairs and you should be able to come out right next to our meeting room.
We will be on the 2nd floor of DART Central Station, so just take the stairs or elevator upstairs and you should be able to come out right next to our meeting room.
A strong year for Iowa's fixed-route transit systems, with Iowa City and Davenport leading the way on growth. Some more mixed results in the demand response systems.
Overall, Iowa increased its transit ridership by over 2 million rides, and is at about 85% of 2019 ridership levels.
Overall, Iowa increased its transit ridership by over 2 million rides, and is at about 85% of 2019 ridership levels.
October 22, 2025 at 11:50 AM
A strong year for Iowa's fixed-route transit systems, with Iowa City and Davenport leading the way on growth. Some more mixed results in the demand response systems.
Overall, Iowa increased its transit ridership by over 2 million rides, and is at about 85% of 2019 ridership levels.
Overall, Iowa increased its transit ridership by over 2 million rides, and is at about 85% of 2019 ridership levels.
The FTA has published transit agency profiles for 2024. See how your local system performed below.
www.transit.dot.gov
October 21, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The FTA has published transit agency profiles for 2024. See how your local system performed below.
Big news for Empire Service riders today. Metro-North will begin 1 daily trip between NYC and Albany starting next year.
Metro-North to extend service to Albany, competing with Amtrak service
The extension marks the first time trains will run between Grand Central Terminal and the state capital since the 1960s.
gothamist.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Big news for Empire Service riders today. Metro-North will begin 1 daily trip between NYC and Albany starting next year.
Phase 2 of Honolulu’s metro line opened today, bringing service into the city proper.
New Skyline extension opens in Honolulu
Hitachi Rail, in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART), and the Department of Transportation Services (DTS), has announced the opening of Segment 2 of Skyline.
www.railwaypro.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Phase 2 of Honolulu’s metro line opened today, bringing service into the city proper.
Coralville Transit’s Route 22 bus will be going away. This change will make North Liberty the 2nd largest city in Iowa (behind Waukee) without any fixed route transit.
North Liberty set to eliminate fixed-route bus service in favor of on-demand expansion
North Liberty will eliminate its low-demand fixed-route bus services in favor of an expansion of city-subsidized paratransit services.
www.press-citizen.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Coralville Transit’s Route 22 bus will be going away. This change will make North Liberty the 2nd largest city in Iowa (behind Waukee) without any fixed route transit.
The Illinois legislature's veto session, which will try to pass funding for proposed Amtrak service to the Quad Cities, begins this Tuesday.
The legislature will be in session the 14th-16th & the 28th-30th.
The legislature will be in session the 14th-16th & the 28th-30th.
October 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM
The Illinois legislature's veto session, which will try to pass funding for proposed Amtrak service to the Quad Cities, begins this Tuesday.
The legislature will be in session the 14th-16th & the 28th-30th.
The legislature will be in session the 14th-16th & the 28th-30th.
Amtrak ridership for August. Overall gains continue, although at a slower rate than previous months.
October 8, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Amtrak ridership for August. Overall gains continue, although at a slower rate than previous months.
As we learned following the MIPRC, the funding gap for the Chicago-Moline corridor (using the preferred IAIS alignment) is estimated to be about $400 million. This new budget proposal from Gov. Pritzker would allocate $390 million to the project, closing nearly the entire gap.
Illinois veto session could unlock funds for Quad Cities passenger rail
A more than $50 billion Illinois infrastructure plan released by Gov. JB Pritzker would include nearly $390 million for passenger rail in the Quad Cities.
www.wqad.com
October 4, 2025 at 8:38 PM
As we learned following the MIPRC, the funding gap for the Chicago-Moline corridor (using the preferred IAIS alignment) is estimated to be about $400 million. This new budget proposal from Gov. Pritzker would allocate $390 million to the project, closing nearly the entire gap.
Reposted by Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers
These projects are not political bargaining chips - they some of the largest public works projects in the country, lifelines for millions of commuters, and essential to the economic vitality of the region.
http://railpax.org/vQ2l50X5Eiy
http://railpax.org/vQ2l50X5Eiy
October 2, 2025 at 2:43 PM
These projects are not political bargaining chips - they some of the largest public works projects in the country, lifelines for millions of commuters, and essential to the economic vitality of the region.
http://railpax.org/vQ2l50X5Eiy
http://railpax.org/vQ2l50X5Eiy