GE Transportation, Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) Announce Locomotive Order

Posted on October 3, 2018October 8, 2018 by byjordanne

Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd. (a wholly owned subsidiary of RDC Domestic Holdings Corporation, an affiliate of Railroad Development Corporation of Pittsburgh, PA) announced today it will acquire three new Evolution™ Series locomotives from GE Transportation. The locomotives will be produced in early 2020 and used to transport grains, ethanol, metals and more across Iowa Interstate’s network between Chicago and Omaha.

IAIS President and CEO, Joe Parsons said “For over a decade, IAIS has invested heavily in infrastructure to support our customers and increase safety. The purchase of these locomotives will help us remain competitive and poised for the growth we are currently experiencing.”

Industrywide data makes clear the positive momentum IAIS and GE Transportation are facing. For the first 38 weeks of 2018, United States rail traffic was up 4.0 percent compared with 2017, according to the Association of American Railroads.

“Our technology solutions are driving improved productivity and reliability to IAIS’s fleet and helping this valued customer move freight more efficiently.” said Yuvbir Singh, GE Transportation’s Vice President of Equipment.

The agreement also includes equipping these new locomotives with GE Transportation’s GoLINC™ Platform, Trip Optimizer™ System, and Distributed Power LOCOTROL® to maximize train effectiveness and efficiency. These solutions are part of GE Transportation’s Train Performance product suite, which optimizes power distribution, train handling, brake control and fuel utilization. Additionally, these digital offerings will be installed on IAIS’s existing Evolution™ Series installed fleet of 17 locomotives.

“We are proud to partner again with GE Transportation,” said Parsons. “These locomotives and their digital technology will allow us to provide safe, quality transportation services in a way that enables our customers and our company to succeed.”

The GE Evolution™ Series locomotive meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) stringent emission standards without the use of any aftertreatment, enabling railroads to gain significant savings through urea infrastructure cost avoidance and reduced operational costs.

Joe Parsons Promoted to President and CEO

Posted on September 21, 2018September 30, 2018 by byjordanne

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, September 21, 2018; Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd. announces the promotion of Joe Parsons from General Manager to President and CEO of the Iowa Interstate Railroad.

Joe Parsons joined Iowa Interstate in September of 2013 as Chief Operating Officer; he was promoted to General Manager in 2017. As President and CEO, Parsons is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the entire railroad, overseeing the transportation, engineering, and mechanical departments, as well as administration departments.

Prior to joining the Iowa Interstate Railroad, Parsons had over 10 years of railroad management experience at both Class I and short line railroads. Parsons began his railroad management career with Norfolk Southern in the Transportation department working in various locations. He eventually was promoted to Terminal Superintendent in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 2011, Parsons accepted the position of Assistant General Manager with the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad and later served as that carrier’s General Manager.

IAIS Chairman Henry Posner III commented, “Joe’s performance as General Manager confirmed his dedication to safety, lifelong learning, and traffic growth”. Bob Pietrandrea, President of IAIS owner Railroad Development Corp. added, “Joe has proven himself as the natural successor for leadership of the IAIS management team”.

Parsons holds a Bachelor’s degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business.

Watco Partners with IAIS to Develop the Council Bluffs Terminal

Posted on January 6, 2018 by byjordanne

Watco has partnered with the regional railroad Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) to develop the Council Bluffs Terminal in Iowa.

The terminal is served by the Iowa Interstate Railroad and has access to all Class I carriers as well as easy access to I-80 and I-29.

Commodities handled at the terminal include lumber, steel, shingles, ethanol, corn oil, and grain. The 5-acre site has 15 railcar spots and IAIS can build and disassemble unit trains. Services provided at the terminal include the handling of bulk (dry/liquid) and breakbulk products – 36k lb. forklift capacity, outdoor storage, and local trucking services.

Click here for more information.

“Iowa Interstate Railroad is proud to partner with Watco by providing safe, efficient service to the Council Bluffs Transload Facility and by improving supply chain options to the Omaha area.” -Joseph Parsons

Iowa Interstate Railroad Announces Leadership Transition

Posted on November 3, 2017November 6, 2017 by byjordanne

The Iowa Interstate Railroad today announced the promotion of Joseph ”Joe” Parsons to the newly-created position of General Manager, concurrent with the retirement of Jerome P. “Jerry” Lipka from the position of President.

IAIS Chairman Henry Posner III commented, “The Board has been focused, second only to Safety, on the creation of an environment conducive to the evolution of a Next Generation of leadership. With the promotion of Joe Parsons to General Manager, this completes a succession plan that has been underway for some time and reflects the emerging leadership role that he has held within the company”.

Joe Parsons joined Iowa Interstate in September of 2013 as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining the Iowa Interstate, he had 10 years of railroad management experience at both Class I and short line railroads. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Iowa.

Posner added, “At the same time, Jerry closes out a distinguished railway career spanning 27 years, including 10 years at Iowa Interstate, the last 6 of which he has served as President. Jerry’s leadership has brought unprecedented levels of stability, safety, investment and growth, and he leaves the company well-positioned for the Next Generation.”

Mr. Parsons commented, “I look forward to the future here at Iowa Interstate and am committed to maintaining Jerry’s legacy- the promotion of safety for IAIS’ employees as well as the general public, and great service to our customers.”

Contact: Bobbi Allen, Director of H.R.
Telephone: (319) 298 5402
E-mail: bjallen@iaisrr.com

Joe Parsons promoted to Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer

Posted on July 13, 2017July 13, 2017 by Bryan Pierce

Joe Parsons has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Joe began his employment with us on September 16, 2013 as the Chief Operating Officer. As of January 1 this year, Joe had been given the responsibility of overseeing the Engineering Department in addition to the overall management of the Transportation, Safety, Customer Service, Locomotive and Mechanical Departments.

When Joe joined IAIS in 2013, he had brought with him 10 years of railroad management experience in both Class 1 and short line railroading. His management experience began with the Norfolk Southern as Trainmaster in Dayton, Ohio and Columbia, South Carolina. Joe was subsequently promoted to Terminal Superintendent in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In May of 2011, Joe accepted the position of Assistant General Manager with the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad and was subsequently promoted to General Manager at the same carrier. He was assuming the same role at the Dallas, Garland, & Northeastern Railroad before accepting our offer.

Joe received his Bachelor’s degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College and recently received his Master’s degree in the Executive MBA Program at the University of Iowa.

Iowa Interstate Railroad moves massive Wind Blades

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Bryan Pierce

Thursday, May 5^th, marked a first for Iowa Interstate Railroad as wind blades from TPI Composites departed Newton, IA by rail. Thirty blades, measuring 56.9 meters each, were loaded one blade per two platform flat cars. After inspection, the cars left Newton and proceeded to the Union Pacific in Des Moines to continue their journey south to Texas.

In 2015 Iowa Interstate Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Distribution Services, the City of Newton, TPI Composites and a major wind OEM worked together to develop a rail solution to move the 189’ wind blades from Newton, IA. The project was not without its difficulties as laydown space, loading equipment, available tracks, and clearance points were all hurdles that needed to be overcome.

Plans were put into place, with the cooperation of Key Coop, to utilize a temporary loading site as permanent plans were finalized. (Two new transloading tracks will be built to accommodate the move). The first blades were carefully loaded on April 29^thfor shipment.

Iowa Interstate Railroad continues to bring value to the Midwest through its nimble service and strategic location with connections to all class one carriers in the US. We are confident that our partnership with TPI Composites and their customers will make shipping the wind blades more cost effective while reducing congestion on the highway and local road systems now and in future years ahead.