The Greater Des Moines Partnership, along with the Environmental Law and Policy Center and Young Professionals Connection, will hold a victory celebration from 5 to 6 p.m. this evening for announced passenger rail service from Chicago to Iowa City.

The Iowa and Illinois departments of transportation were awarded $230 million from the Federal Railroad Administration on Monday to initiate rail service between the two cities.

The move, scheduled for completion in 2015, could be a step in the right direction for getting passenger rail service through Des Moines on the way to Omaha. Today’s rally will take place at Hessen Haus, 101 Fourth St.