Passenger Train Stops in Grinnell
Details are still sketchy, but an Iowa Interstate passenger train was stopped in Grinnell for a short while this afternoon.
One passenger car, the Abraham Lincon, and the other, the Hawkeye, were positioned just west of the Depot Crossing Restaurant.
My first thought — it’s something to mark the re-opening of the Depot tomorrow evening. Then my mind began racing! What if it’s a scouting expedition to find possible depot sites if Iowa Interstate ever gets the Amtrak line across Iowa?
I have asked contacts at the railroad for an answer. Will send along their answer!!
May 28th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I just came across this and would have loved to take a train into Grinnell for the reunion! It was not on the schedule for Amtrak and, given the choices and their costs, as well as my cash flow, I have regretfully had to plan on a car ride from New Jersey to Grinnell. The Amtrak scheduling was painful only to leave me to far away from campus to be useful, while the plane trips were far too expensive and also required car rides to and from the various airports. I am going to make the best of it, advertising my books along the way, but it is really sad when an advocate of public transit and pedestrian development, such as myself, is forced by incompetence and greed within the public and private transportation sectors to travel three thousand miles by car.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Your only option is to ride to Ottumwa on Amtrak and have someone pick you up there and bring you to Grinnell.
I’m cautiously optimistic about the chances of passenger rail extending to the Central Iowa line — someday!