Hoosier State reverting to Amtrak equipment, services

Amtrak’s Hoosier State passenger train, which operates four days per week between Indianapolis and Chicago, will revert to railcars, locomotives and on-board services supplied by Amtrak beginning March 1, replacing equipment and services that had been provided by Iowa Pacific Holdings.

“We are certainly grateful to INDOT (Indiana Department of Transportation) for providing the opportunity to demonstrate that service enhancements can drive improvements in customer satisfaction, revenue and ridership, and we wish INDOT well as they transition to a different service model,” said Ed Ellis, President of Iowa Pacific.

“INDOT and on-line communities plan to make certain on-board amenities available including Wi-Fi and business class seating,” Amtrak said. “Levels of on-board services will be finalized and communicated to booked passengers after contracts with Amtrak are amended. Amtrak will also continue to provide train crews and coordinate with private railroads that own the track. Indiana and 17 other states contract with Amtrak to provide short-distance, intercity passenger rail services. No action is required from ticketed passengers as Amtrak will continue to provide ticketing and reservations.”

The Hoosier State operates between Indianapolis and Chicago with intermediate stops in Crawfordsville, Dyer, Lafayette and Rensselaer. Train 851 runs north on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and Train 850 runs south on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. The other days each week these communities are served by Amtrak’s Cardinal, which operates between New York City and Chicago.

“The Hoosier State and the Cardinal are important for the flow of railcars and locomotives between Chicago and the Amtrak heavy maintenance facility in Beech Grove,” Amtrak added. “More than 500 highly skilled Amtrak employees rebuild and overhaul railcars and locomotives at the workshops southeast of Indianapolis for use across the nation.”