New Iowa Guy

[rjcraig]

Hi everyone! My name is Bob and I live in the Des Moines area. I'm a Zephyr guy and about once a year take the train from Osceola, Ia. to Martinez, Ca. to visit friends I met on the Zephyr 17 ago. I have ridden most of the long haul routes over the years. What I haven't done yet is the Boston section of the Lake Shore Limited. I have not done the Silver Service south of Orlando, nor the New Orleans - San Antonio section of the Sunset Limited. Other than those I've ridden them all. I'm a roomette kind of guy! Thank you for allowing me to join!

Bob

 

[danasgoodstuff]

Welcome to AU, I think you'll find a wealth of knowledge here. I used to live in Des Moines in the mid-'80s, maybe one day you'll get passenger service again. A corridor train from Omaha thru Des Moines to Chicago makes sense to me but the efforts to make that happen seem to have stalled.

 

[rjcraig]

I would say more than stalled. I haven't heard it mentioned in quite a while. This was being discussed in relation to the Quad Cities train. But more as an extension to Iowa City than a full service train to Omaha. If population were the only deciding factor, then this Iowa Interstate line would be the answer for a reroute of the Zephyr. It hits the biggest population centers in Iowa. The Quad Cities, The University of Iowa at Iowa City, and of course Des Moines. I think track quality would also be an issue. I don't believe the top speed is over about 45 MPH. Okay for their purposes, but not Amtrak's. Thanks for your warm welcome, danasgoodstuff!

Bob