Opportunity
Federal Register #Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 424X); Docket No. AB 414 (Sub-No. 9X)
Notice of Rail Line Abandonment in Polk County, Iowa by Norfolk Southern Railway and Iowa Interstate Railroad
Posted
May 04, 2026
Identifier
Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 424X); Docket No. AB 414 (Sub-No. 9X)
This notice concerns the regulatory abandonment of a rail line in Polk County, Iowa: - Government buyer: Surface Transportation Board (Department of Transportation) - Action: Notice of exemption for abandonment of approximately 12.2 miles of rail line (including the Clive Spur) in Polk County, Iowa - Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR) is the owner of the line - Iowa Interstate Railroad, LLC (IAIS) is discontinuing its lease and operation authority - No products or services are being procured; this is a regulatory action - The line includes stations in Des Moines and Grimes - The abandonment is due to declining traffic and insufficient revenues - The notice provides procedures for offers of financial assistance (OFA) for those interested in subsidizing or purchasing the line - There is potential for public or interim trail use after abandonment - No OEMs, vendors, or procurement requirements are mentioned
Description
This notice announces the Surface Transportation Board's decision to grant an exemption for Norfolk Southern Railway Company to abandon certain rail lines in Polk County, Iowa, and for Iowa Interstate Railroad to discontinue lease and operation authority over the same lines. The rail line involved extends approximately 12.2 miles and includes the Clive Spur. The petitioners state that the line is not economically viable due to declining traffic and insufficient revenues to cover costs. The notice also outlines procedures for offers of financial assistance and potential public use or trail use of the line after abandonment.