Our vision is becoming a reality.

Restore Passenger Rail to the Quad Cities

The vision of QC Rail is restored passenger rail service from the Quad Cities to Chicago.  A thriving metropolitan area of 400,000 residents, the Quad City region is the next most logical addition to the passenger rail system.   However, this is just the beginning.  Once the Quad Cities receives service, QC Rail believes connecting to Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Omaha is a feasible venture.

A Long History of Passenger Rail

The first passenger train arrived in the Quad Cities from Chicago on Feb. 22, 1854. Called "The Rock Island Rocket," it was the first train traveling west to ever reach the Mississippi River.  The first railroad bridge constructed over the Mississippi River was completed in Rock Island during 1856 allowing for continued rail service to the western United States. Passenger rail service was a thriving mainstay in the Quad Cities for nearly 125 years until 1978.  The Quad Cities has been without passenger rail for almost 3 decades.  

Status of Passenger Rail in the Quad Cities

• January 2007 - US Senator Dick Durbin asked the Illinois Secretary of Transportation to request that Amtrak conduct a feasibility study regarding service between the Quad Cities and Chicago.

• March 2007 - Amtrak began the IDOT requested route feasibility study from Chicago to the Quad Cities.  

• May 2007 - The Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition was created – over 3600 members as of May 2008. 

• November 2007 - Start of the Illinois Quad Cities Metropolitan Rail Study by local municipalities, which will include a recommendation of the optimal location for an Amtrak station in the Illinois Quad Cities.  

• January 2008 - Amtrak and Illinois DOT completes the route feasibility report for passenger rail from Chicago to the Quad Cities.

• April 2008 - Amtrak and Iowa DOT completes the route feasibility report for extended passenger rail service from the Quad Cities to Iowa City.

Looking Forward
 
The Quad Cities is located on a highly populated passenger rail route being considered to connect Chicago with the Quad Cities (400,000 residents), Iowa City/Cedar Rapids (390,000 residents), Des Moines (500,000 residents), and Omaha (820,000 residents).  Amtrak has completed feasibility studies for service from Chicago to the Quad Cities, and Quad Cities to Iowa City.  Iowa DOT has also requested Amtrak study extending the route to Des Moines. 

Passenger Rail Steering Committee

Organized as an initiative of the Illinois Quad City Chamber’s Blueprint 2010, the Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition 
thrives on the excitement and support from its active Steering Committee members and Coalition supporters. 

Steering Committee Members:
Paul Rumler, Executive Director - Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition
Jim Bohnsack, Chairman - Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition
John Wetzel, Chairman - Passenger Rail Steering Committee
Rick Baker, Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce
Denise Bulat, Bi-State Regional Commission
Nicole Christian, DavenportOne
Lisa Corcoran, Deere & Company
John Corelis, Ruhl & Ruhl Commercial
Richard Davidson, Lane & Waterman
Dave Emerick, Blackhawk State Bank
P.J. Foley, St. Ambrose University
Sally Heffernan, City of Rock Island
Scott Killip, Seneca Companies
Hector Lareau
Bob Lundin, Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce
Charlotte Morrison, Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau
Nancy Mulcahey, Quad City Development Group
Bill Nelson, City of Rock Island Parks and Recreation
Jeff Nelson, MetroLINK
Jim Patterson, Western Illinois University
Dennis Pauley, AT&T
Steve Polito
Marge Purnell, The Sedona Group
Chuck Roberson
Kevin Santry
Kai Swanson, Augustana College
Scott Tunnicliff
Steve Verdick, REDEEM 

© 2007 Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition