.jpg) Proposed rail alignment near the University of Iowa campus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Service type | Commuter rail / hybrid rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Proposed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Johnson County, Iowa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway (interurban service) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First service | 2026 (proposed) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current operator(s) | Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway (shortline freight service) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | Iowa City North Liberty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stops | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average journey time | 30 minutes (proposed) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service frequency | 45-minute headways (proposed) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | British Rail Class 230 (proposed) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | Onboard lithium-ion battery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 60 mph (95.6 km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average length | 8.2 miles (13.2 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track owner(s) | Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Iowa City-North Liberty Commuter Rail is a proposed commuter rail project in Johnson County, Iowa, that aims to reintroduce passenger rail service along an 8.2 miles (13.2 km) segment of the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway (CRANDIC) corridor. The service would connect North Liberty, Coralville, and the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City. As of 2025, the preferred alternative calls for a "Pop-Up Metro" pilot service that would utilize British Rail Class 230 battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) repurposed from former London Underground D78 Stock.
Conceptual planning for the project began in the early 2010s, with renewed focus emerging in 2024 when the Railroad Development Corporation (RDC) proposed its Pop-Up Metro concept to Johnson County officials. Previous alternatives included conventional passenger rail and bus rapid transit. The project remains in the planning stages, with a three-year pilot program anticipated to launch by 2026 pending funding and approvals. Although classified as commuter rail within service proposals, the current iteration of the project aligns more closely with the Federal Railroad Administration's definition of hybrid rail due to its use of lightweight, self-powered rolling stock and its focus on shorter-distance regional service.
Background
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The Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway was established in 1904 to provide interurban passenger rail service between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Passenger service ceased in 1953 due to declining ridership as automobiles and highways became the preferred modes of travel. Since then, the corridor has been used exclusively for freight service. Interest in reintroducing passenger rail service emerged in the early 2010s as Johnson County experienced population growth and increasing traffic congestion. A 2012 regional transportation planning study highlighted the need for alternative transit solutions, including the potential for rail-based services along the CRANDIC corridor. A feasibility study in 2015 identified the CRANDIC corridor as a potential route for commuter rail. Future studies assessed additional alternatives; in 2018 the line was studied for rail trail conversion, in 2020 conventional commuter rail was studied, and in early 2024 the line was studied for conversion into a paved busway.
Interest in passenger service was renewed in 2024 when the Railroad Development Corporation presented a "Pop-Up Metro" pilot service, which proposed using battery-electric trains on existing infrastructure for a lower capital cost. As proposed, the Pop-Up Metro concept was developed as a low-cost and flexible solution for testing commuter rail viability in areas that lack existing rail transport; it is designed to repurpose existing freight rail lines for passenger service using battery-electric multiple units with minimal infrastructure and expedited implementation. The RDC proposes that Pop-Up Metro avoids the need for costly infrastructure upgrades such as full electrification; instead, it relies on trains equipped with onboard battery systems capable of recharging at strategically placed charging stations. Despite this, the Pop-Up Metro concept has not been adopted by any transit agencies for revenue service, nor have service pilots occurred.
In August 2024, representatives from Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, and Johnson County traveled to Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania, to experience the Pop-Up Metro demonstration firsthand. Following this visit, local stakeholders expressed strong interest in pursuing the project as a pilot program; approval for the Pop-Up Metro was formalized in December 2024 when the Johnson County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution supporting the Iowa City-North Liberty Commuter Rail as a pilot project. The other two alternatives, conventional rail and bus rapid transit, were deemed less favorable due to increased capital expenditure (estimated at $60 million and $87.4 million respectively). The estimated cost for the three-year pilot program is $5.7 million, with annual operating costs projected at $3.7 million. Funding is expected from local governments, federal grants, and public-private partnerships. Collaboration among local municipalities, state agencies, and the RDC is ongoing to finalize agreements and secure the necessary funding.
Proposed service
As proposed, the Iowa City-North Liberty Commuter Rail would operate along an 8.2 miles (13.2 km) segment of the CRANDIC line that is currently used exclusively for shortline freight service, with stops planned in North Liberty, Coralville, and downtown Iowa City by 2026. Several intermediate stations are planned; however, locations are not determined. The project includes upgrades to infrastructure such as charging stations, a light maintenance facility, grade crossing upgrades, and temporary high-level platforms. The RDC owns two British Rail Class 230 trainsets acquired from Vivarail that are stored at the Rockhill Trolley Museum in Pennsylvania; Vivarail specialized in producing battery-electric, diesel-electric and hybrid trains for the United Kingdom market but ceased operations in 2023. If the pilot is funded, the Class 230 would be implemented for pilot Iowa City-North Liberty service. Specific station sites have yet to be identified.
Upon the establishment of an operational entity for the service, a leasing agreement for use of the CRANDIC line would be pursued. Pilot service would operate with 45 minute bidirectional headways Monday through Friday between 6 AM and 9 PM; end-to-end travel time is estimated at 30 minutes, with a total of six stations. The Class 230 units are not compliant with FRA Tier-1 crashworthiness standards, prohibiting mixed operations with conventional rail. Service would operate under a shared-use waiver from the FRA based on temporal separation under the condition that the two modes (shortline freight and passenger) are kept separate by assignment of specific blocks of time to each mode. Under this provision, the service would be classified as hybrid rail, which the FRA defines as a form of light rail transit. Modular ADA compliant high-level platforms would be implemented at station sites.
See also
References
- Hansen, Ryan (24 July 2024). "Battery-operated passenger train from Iowa City to North Liberty possible as soon as 2025". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- Woolard, Megan (17 July 2024). "Johnson County officials exploring potential for battery powered trains". www.thegazette.com. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- "Rail Guide". rail.guide. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- "Vivarail". Vivarail.
- "Pop-Up Metro Information Sheet" (PDF).
- ^ "Potential Re-use of the CRANDIC Rail Line". Johnson County MPO. January 12, 2025.
- "PROPOSED INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL | Iowa DOT". iowadot.gov. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
- "Iowa City-North Liberty Commuter Rail Conceptual Feasibility Study" (PDF). July 31, 2020.
- Tong, Noah (2022-01-27). "CRANDIC no longer involved with potential commuter rail plan". Corridor Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
- "Iowa county looks at Pop Up Metro rail proposal". Trains. 2024-07-22. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
- Watson, Evan. "Greater Iowa City area discusses a new commuter rail line". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
- "Corridor communities look toward new public transit opportunities". www.thegazette.com. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
- "Pop Up Metro". rrdc.com. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
- Barkalow, Annie Smith (2024-07-19). "Johnson County leaders explore possibility of battery-powered rail line". Corridor Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
- Bowker, Paul D. (2024-08-21). "JoCo Supervisors get a close look at Pop-Up trains in Pennsylvania". The News. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
- Hajj, Nick El (2024-12-09). "Johnson County board set to advance battery-powered trains along CRANDIC line". KGAN. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
- Norman, Helen (2022-04-28). "UK train manufacturer sends second set of Class 230 battery trains to the US". Electric and Hybrid Rail Technology. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
- "Glossary". Federal Railroad Administration.