The station is one of the namesake stations of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q or Burlington Route), but today serves as the western terminus of Amtrak's Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg trains.

It was built in 1985 and was modeled after a former streetcar station of the early 20th Century.

The city has received $6 million to build a new intermodal terminal closer to downtown.

[3] The location has not been finalized yet, but the planners currently favor a terminal near 2nd/Oak intersection, at the site of the city's original train station.

[4] However, the funds would not be enough to cover any new rail, which would limit the planners' options.