Daniel R. Sabin - President
Phone: 319.297.6000 :. dsabin@iowanorthern.com
Daniel R. Sabin is Owner and President of the Iowa Northern Railway Company based in Cedar Rapids. The Iowa Northern is a 163-mile shortline railroad which runs diagonally from north to south from Manly to Cedar Rapids, all within the State of Iowa. Dan bought the struggling line in 1994, from on-line elevators, which is made up of remnants from the former Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railway Company, and established as a short line in 1984. At that time, the railroad handled 12,000 revenue cars and the average track speed was less than 10 mph. In 2006, traffic surged to 40,000 revenue cars and the average track speed is now 30 mph. Since Dan's purchase of the line, the railroad has invested over $1.3 million per year in bringing up the line to a state of good repair while increasing reliability and customer service. Plans are underway to spend an additional $55 million over the next five years in capital and capacity improvements. Additionally, Dan has managed the partnership and location of two ethanol plants on the line as well as other various industries and economic development initiatives. In October 2006, the Iowa Northern and the Keiwiet Group Companies broke ground on Manly Terminal, LLC; a joint venture - first of its kind ethanol and biofuels storage and trading facility in Manly, Iowa.
Prior to the Iowa Northern, Dan was Co-Founder, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Iron Road Railways based in Alexandria, VA which owned and operated various shortline operations including the former the Bangor and Aroostook System. Dan also has experience as Co-Founder and President of his own transportation consulting firm as well from his days with CSX Transportation, Canadian Pacific Railway and the Rock Island.
Sabin is also owner and operator of the Hawkeye Express, under contract to furnish shuttle train service to Iowa Hawkeye home football games.
He is a graduate of Grandview College and Southwest Oklahoma State University, in Economics and Business, and resides in Coralville with his wife Colleen.
