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TRAIN TRAVEL IN IOWA
Seeing Iowa Through the Window of a Fast-Moving Passenger Train
Passenger trains connect Iowa
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A Guide For Newbies and Out-Of-Staters.
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Ask questions, leave a comment, talk about Iowa food and travel, at our new message boards.
A Guide For Newbies and Out-Of-Staters.
INDEPTHIowa
For the patient traveler, there's not a better way to see Iowa than through the window of an Amtrak passenger car as it cuts across southern Iowa from Omaha to Burlington. With stops in some of the state's most historic communities, Amtrak means that getting there is half the fun. And with careful planning, a train ride can make a terrific day trip to sate the passions of rail enthusiasts of all ages.

For Central Iowans, a trip from the weathered depot in Osceola to Mount Pleasant or Burlington makes for a jam-packed day of fun and adventure. In Burlington, families with young children can enjoy the two and one-half hour train ride and then spend the better part of the day at Fun City (telephone 877-5432-FUN) with its indoor/outdoor water park, state-of-the-art bowling alley, indoor go-cart track, lazer tag arena and giant video game arcade.

Or, for a more sedate day, take a taxi to Snake Alley, the crookedest Street in the world and then spend some time downtown and along the waterfront, with lunch at Big Muddy's on the Mississippi or, if you are traveling without children, the terrific Martini's Grille.


Amtrak serves six cities in Iowa as well as Omaha, just over the Missouri River.


Amtrak offers several stops in Iowa, convenient mostly for leisure travelers or as embarking points for cross-country journeys. The state is served by the California Zephyr, which offers cross-country service between Chicago and Sacramento. The Zephyr travels east across the state in the mornings and west in the evenings.

Travelers in southeast Iowa can also board Amtrak in Fort Madison (one of Iowa's great railroad towns) to travel on the Southwest Chief. Although the Chief doesn't make any other stops in Iowa, travelers can connect from Fort Madison to any of the cities on the California Zephyr route by transfering in Galesburg, Ill. The Southwest Chief also is a good option to people traveling to Chicago or Kansas City; both cities are served by  Amtrak on that line.

People in the Des Moines area are perhaps best served by the current schedule. An eastbound train makes scheduled stops in Osceola (about 40 miles south of Des Moines on Interstate Highway 35) at 8:10 a.m. daily; the westbound train is scheduled to arrive at the Osceola Depot at 7:59 p.m. daily, making a round-trip to an eastern destination ideal.

(Warning: freight traffic and rail maintenance can lead to almost certain delays, another factor to makes Amtrak a more suitable option to leisure rather than business passengers. Travelers must be flexible.)

Here are some sample fares departing from Osceola. Passengers can depart from the six stations in Iowa. Fares will vary and seasonal conditions may affect final prices.
Osceola to Ottumwa (one way) $13.
Osceola to Burlington (one way) $23.
Osceola to Fort Madison (one way) $37. (Requires transfer in Galesburg0
Osceola to Creston (one way) $8
Osceola to Mount Pleasant $20.
Osceola to Omaha $22.

Eastbound      Westbound
Burlington               10:56 a.m. 5:15 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant           10:24 a.m.        5:49 p.m.
Ottumwa (OTM)       9:39 a.m.         6:43 p.m.
Osceola (OSC)        8:10 a.m.         7:59 p.m.
Creston, IA (CRN)    7:34 a.m.         8:34 p.m.
Omaha, NE (OMA)   5:44 a.m.        10:19 p.m.
Fort Madison (FMD) 11:11 a.m.       6:57 p.m. (Southwest Chief line)

Source: www.amtrak.com
AMTRAK IN IOWA
Inexpensive Amtrak a fun way to see the state