Omaha Exploration

As rail passenger service continued to decline and Penn Central, the largest railroad in the country on the verge of bankruptcy, it announced its plan to discontinue 34 of its passenger trains. That led to the formation of a quasi-public corporation to operate passenger rail routes in 1971. First named Railpax, it was renamed as Amtrak shortly thereafter. 

In Omaha Amtrak first considered using Union Station but instead opted for Burlington Station causing Union Station to close as a result. In 1974 Amtrak moved out of the old train station citing high maintenance costs.

It moved its passenger service to three connected trailers just east of the Burlington in a parking lot. Referred to as an “Am-shack” – it didn’t even have signage. One of the trailers was used for baggage, tickets, restrooms and the ticket office while the other two were used by passengers. On busy days 50 people waited inside while another 40-50 stood outside. There suggestions of moving service back to Burlington following a renovation or even utilizing Union Station. 

In 1979 the president of the Iowa-Nebraska Association of Railroad Passengers called Amtrak a deliberate failure. He said Omaha’s terrible train service was part of a plan to cut back and eventually discontinue the country’s rail passenger service because the Department of Transportation prefers that people use the highway system. There were even recommendations to cut passenger service to Nebraska altogether.

In 1983 the trailers were finally replaced with the current building at the same site. It was built according to one of Amtrak’s standard designs. It has a capacity of 50 in addition to baggage and handling space.

Today the Omaha station is served by the California Zephyr whose route is said to be among the most scenic in the country. The train includes coach and sleeping cars, observation car in addition to a dining car and lounge. The train headed east arrives around 5 AM while the train headed west arrives around 11 PM each day.

In recent years, proposals to expand service include a route connecting Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, Omaha, Kansas City and Phoenix in addition to a direct connection between Omaha and Chicago as well as Omaha and Lincoln.

Fortunately the old train stations still stand but both are used in a different capacity. The former Union Station now serves as the Union Station while the Burlington Station is the home to KETV.

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