Iowa Code Title I. State Sovereignty and Management [Chs. 1-38D] § 6A.10. Initiating railroad condemnation by railway corporation

A railway corporation shall apply to the department of transportation for permission to condemn. The railway corporation shall serve notice of the application and hearing and provide a copy of the legal description of the property to be condemned to the owner and any recordholders of liens and encumbrances on any land described in the application. The department may, after hearing, report to the clerk of the district court of the county in which the land is situated the description of the land sought to be condemned. The corporation may begin condemnation procedures in district court for the land described by the department.