(The following story by Kristin Buehner appeared on the Globe Gazette website on October 20, 2009.)
MASON CITY, Iowa — Robert W. Turner, senior vice president for corporate relations for the Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, said significant improvements are planned for the rail line.
Turner accompanied Gov. Chet Culver Tuesday on the Iowa Unlimited visit to Mason City and Manly.
“We are a huge player in your state,” Turner said.
Turner said the rail and energy industries have applied for a $23 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to make needed improvements.
Available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act established by President Barack Obama, the grants are available for capital investment in surface transportation infrastructure.
Turner talked about developing the key rail corridor between the Gulf of Mexico and Manly, saying, “It’ll be great for all the businesses of Iowa.”
If just 10 percent of freight transported through Iowa was delivered by rail, “we could take a million trucks from the interstate,” Turner said.
The Iowa Unlimited carrying the governor’s entourage was part of a Heritage Fleet of about 50 cars of the Union Pacific, Turner said.
Furnished with carpeting, wood paneling, upholstered chairs, love seats and swivel chairs in the observation decks, the cars traveled along smoothly at speeds of up to 47 miles an hour during the day.
Manly Mayor Tim O’Keefe, who boarded the train in Iowa Falls, said the sight of the yellow passenger train with American flag on the engine brought lots of waves and lots of stares along the route.
“Everybody stops and gawks,” he said.