The Indiana Department of Transportation announced Friday that the Hoosier State's passenger rail would end service April 1st due to new Federal Railroad Administration rules that would have deemed Indiana a rail carrier despite not owning any tracks or trains. INDOT says that would expose the state “to significant increases in cost, paperwork and liability.”
However, the following statement issued Monday by Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman, states that Amtrak has offered to continue operating the line on a month-to-month basis.
“Daily Amtrak service to Indianapolis does not have to end in April. Amtrak has offered to continue to operate the train on a month-to-month basis. Amtrak is ready, willing and able to continue to provide safe and reliable service using one of the proven models we've used in other states. We have shown how the quality of the passenger experience can be improved by demonstrating modern Wi-Fi and business class seating. We have the expertise in working with the host railroads and have repeatedly offered to be the state's and the communities' partner in advancing plans to improve the travel time and the reliability of the service. Experience has proven that losing the foundation that daily service to central Indiana now provides will make it much more difficult and expensive to create a true intercity passenger corridor in the future. Amtrak made it clear in a recent meeting in Washington with Lafayette-area officials that ways to improve this service are within the state’s reach, with Amtrak as a proven partner.”
