Born from the ashes of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific in 1984, Iowa Interstate operates about 500 miles of railroad, centered around the ex-CRIP main from Bureau, IL, west through the Quad Cities and Des Moines into Council Bluffs, IA. Additionally, they reach eastward to Blue Island, IL, via CSX and Metra trackage rights, and south to Peoria, IL, as well as operating several small branches off the main line. This site is meant to assist already avid IAIS enthusiasts, encourage new ones, and provide information to those just dropping in for a visit.

LATEST IOWA INTERSTATE NEWS

Iowa Interstate Railroad Announces Changes to Executive Management

Posted Friday, March 30, 2012
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, March 30, 2012 – Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd. (IAIS) today announced the promotion of Dennis H. Miller from President & CEO to Vice Chairman of the Board, effective March 31. Miller, who has been President since 2002, joined the company in 1985 and previously served as Vice President of Information Systems, Customer Services and Operations. His railroad service also includes 10 years with the Peoria and Pekin Union Railway and 2 years with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. Mr. Miller also served as President of Rail Traffic Control, a company that marketed computer-aided dispatching software in the U.S. and around the world. During his tenure as President, IAIS grew from 45,000 to over 125,000 carloads annually and oversaw capital improvements in excess of $100M. The company is also one of the safest railroads in the country, having won three E.H Harriman awards, including 2 Gold medals.

Jerome P. Lipka will succeed Miller as President and CEO. Mr. Lipka joined the company in 2008 as VP and Chief Financial Officer. He was promoted to Executive Vice President–CFO in 2011. Prior to joining IAIS, Mr. Lipka served 8 years as CFO for the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad and its sister company, Allied Enterprises, Inc. His other prior railroad experience includes 7 years at the Chicago and North Western Railway and 2 years at BNSF. Mr. Lipka also served as CFO for a large governmental concern and an engineering company in the Chicago area. He started his career with Arthur Andersen & Co. in Chicago (11 years) after graduating with his MBA in Finance and Accounting from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Henry Posner III, Chairman of IAIS, commented, “With his promotion to Vice Chairman we acknowledge the results of Denny’s leadership: continuous improvements in both safety and traffic have permitted levels of investment and profitability that can be described as nothing less than transformational. Given that our company began as an abandoned railroad, his achievements are even more extraordinary.”

RDC President Robert A. “Bob” Pietrandrea added, “With Jerry’s promotion to President we acknowledge his own contributions to the success of the company and secure the next generation of leadership. These promotions will also allow us to get Denny more involved in other RDC ventures.”

Founded in 1984, IAIS is a regional rail carrier operating over 500 miles between Omaha, Nebraska, and Chicago and Peoria, Illinois with connections to all Class 1 carriers. For more information about IAIS, please visit www.IAISRR.com.

IAIS is a subsidiary of Railroad Development Corporation, a privately held Pittsburgh‑based railway management and investment company with worldwide interests. For more information about RDC, please visit www.RRDC.com.
- FrankGrizel

Geneseo's Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Posted Friday, August 5, 2011
The Iowa Interstate Railroad and Patriot Renewable Fuels, Inc will be participating in Geneseo's Annual Planes, Trains & Automobiles event on Saturday, September 10, 2011.

New and exciting for this year will be the addition of 3 train rides pulled behind a 2-10-2 coal fired steam locomotive. The train will travel from Geneseo to Annawan and back, roughly an hour and a half round trip. Departure times offered are 9:30AM, 11:45AM and 2PM. Tickets for the Annawan Excursion are just $12.50 for adults and $6.25 for children 2-12. Kids under 2 are FREE. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce at 309-944-2686. Be a part of history and take advantage of this unique opportunity.

IAIS 6988 is expected to be positioned on the west end of the train with Patriot Fuels (ex-IAIS) 250 positioned on the east end. Several of the RRDX commuter coaches will be used on the train.

See www.geneseo.org for details. - ErikRasmussen

IAIS 2011 Capital Expenditures

Posted Friday, January 28, 2011
Iowa Interstate Railroad Increases 2011 Capital Expenditures for Infrastructure to Highest-Ever as Result of Tax Credit Program


CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, January 28, 2011 – Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) today announced a $4.5 million increase in the infrastructure portion of its capital spending program for 2011. The Company expects to invest a total of approximately $35 million during the year. Principal components of the program include:

1. Construction of a modern diesel shop and logistics center in Homestead, IA for $14 million to support its recently upgraded locomotive fleet;

2. Completion of a car repair shop, Maintenance of Way base, and train crew center in Silvis, IL for $1.3 million to support current and anticipated traffic growth;

3. Installation of 15 miles of new rail for $6.4 million; and

4. Replacement of ties and surfacing for $7.6 million.

To meet customer-specific needs and expansion, the Company also expects to spend $2 million on track spur improvements to a customer elevator in Atlantic, IA; $1 million in paving an intermodal facility in Council Bluffs, IA, and $1 million on yard improvements and construction of a new team track for transmodal expansion in Council Bluffs, IA.

Part of the required financing will be met with a bank loan and the balance will be generated from internal funds and utilization of the recently extended “45G” Tax Credit through 2011.

IAIS President & CEO Denny Miller commented, “While it is gratifying to see these improvements driven by traffic growth, it is important to note that we increased the infrastructure portion of our capital program from roughly $9.5 million to $14 million as a direct result of the extension of the 45G Tax Credit program into 2011. This program provides for tax credits tied to infrastructure investment in support of increased capacity, and we are making full use of it. Additional benefits to the regional economy will of course include increased employment and purchases from our suppliers, but this is first and foremost about infrastructure investment in support of growth.”

The Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd. is a privately held, regional railroad that operates across the Council Bluffs, Iowa to Chicago, IL corridor with a connection to Peoria, IL. It further provides freight rail service to the Quad Cities (IA and IL), Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City. For more information, please visit www.IAISRR.com.

Contact: Dennis Miller, President & CEO | DHMiller@IAISRR.com | Tel: (319) 298-5422 - FrankGrizel

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