LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP): Amtrak will pull the plug at the end of June on its Hoosier State passenger line between Indianapolis and Chicago with the loss of funding in Indiana’s new state budget.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says the four-days-a-week train won’t run after June 30, which is when its $3 million annual state subsidy ends.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb didn’t seek a continuation of that funding, with administration officials saying the subsidy of about $100 per passenger was too high and ridership numbers too low.
Amtrak stopped taking reservations in April beyond June for the Hoosier State’s trips on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Another Amtrak route, the Cardinal, runs between Indianapolis and Chicago on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays as part of a Chicago-to-New York City route.
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The service should have been improved with multiple schedules daily and increased speeds. This would have made this route a true corridor linking two major economies (Indy and Chicago) with smaller cities along the route. The route should also have been extend to Cincinnati and to Louisville creating linking two additional big-city destinations with the smaller towns along the two routes.
Loss of this train will make it more difficult to re-create the Chicago, Fort Wayne, and Columbus (Ohio) route which could be further expanded with Federal help to re-connect with New York.
Rail passenger proponents were also contemplating a new Florida route and possible auto-train linking the Midwest service directly to Florida through Indianapolis.
This is truly a major setback.
Short sighted thinking. just as in Rails to Trails. Eliminating railes that should be being used for comuter trains to reduce road traffic.