The CPKC River subdivision is known for its meandering course along the Mississippi River. The River sub, as it's known locally, features some sizable trains, numbering a couple of dozen every day. This rail line is renowned for its scenic beauty, running through many iconic landscapes.

The line also hosts an Amtrak train each way each day. This train is the famous and popular Empire Builder. The train gets its name from James Hill, the founder of the Great Northern Railway, who was nicknamed the Empire Builder.

The Empire Builder is today a daily service that operates between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, making stops along the way in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. It carries passengers between these cities on a roughly 2,200-mile journey, taking about 45 hours to complete.

The CPKC is the result of a merger between the Canadian Pacific and the Kansas City Southern.