Group continues pushing for passenger train service

A statewide group of passenger train enthusiasts is meeting at midday in Des Moines to plot strategy for the year ahead. The Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers is gathering in the Des Moines area. President Henry Wulff hopes state lawmakers will back proposals to expand rail service in Iowa. The Midwest Rail Compact is pushing for that expansion.That compact would eventually bring high-speed rail service to the Midwest. One of the biggest expenses in planning new railroad service is buying up all of the pieces of land needed in a relatively straight line to lay track. Wulff says that shouldn’t be a big concern in Iowa. He says the plan would involve existing right of way.Wulff says the trains in the proposed nine-state compact would be running around 80 miles an hour through Iowa.The meeting is slated for 1 p-m at the North End Diner in Johnston.