The largest customers include Alliant Energy, Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill, International Paper's Cedar River mill, and Ingredion Products.

In 1996, a large locomotive and car shop was built in the southwest side of Cedar Rapids as a replacement for the original Rockford Road facility.

In late 2004, the CRANDIC chose to concentrate on its major focus, switching customers along its rail lines.

In 2005, Railway Age magazine named the CRANDIC its Short Line Railroad of the Year.

[2] Plans to reintroduce passenger rail service along an 8.2 miles (13.2 km) segment of the CRANDIC corridor between North Liberty, Coralville, and the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City emerged in the early 2010s.

The preferred alternative called for a "Pop-Up Metro" pilot service that would utilize British Rail Class 230 battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) repurposed from former London Underground D78 Stock.