Passenger Trains > Hoosier State funded through January

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2014/08/20/deal-keeps-hoosier-state-trains-running-january/14341317/

"The four-month contract extension buys more time as the communities served by Amtrak work on a deal to hand off service to Corridor Capital, a private rail operator."

Typhoon Wrote:
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> http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2014/08/20/deal
> -keeps-hoosier-state-trains-running-january/143413
> 17/
>
> "The four-month contract extension buys more time
> as the communities served by Amtrak work on a deal
> to hand off service to Corridor Capital, a private
> rail operator."


Boo!

At this rate, This route will be dying of a slow painful death. If and when it does finally die.

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

"But last month, Mayor Greg Ballard’s administration announced it was ready to end the local subsidies.

Indianapolis Department of Public Works spokeswoman Stephanie Wilson told the Associated Press last month that the city might reconsider its decision if the vendor significantly improves service on the line, which makes stops in Crawfordsville, Lafayette, Rensselaer and Dyer."

I find that statement interesting. I wonder how much improvement the city of Indy would like?

PTJ said Dyer cut off maintenance of the shelter to save $1K per month (< min wage job).

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> PTJ said Dyer cut off maintenance of the shelter
> to save $1K per month (< min wage job).


You really think maintaining that shelter is the only work that guy is paid for?

Some foamers could keep Dyer up to snuff. Don't ask. Just do it.

Is Indiana broke or just cheap?

nedzarp Wrote:
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> Is Indiana broke or just cheap?

Yes.

Posted from iPhone

Nictd1000 Wrote:
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> nedzarp Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is Indiana broke or just cheap?
>
> Yes.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Just cheap.

santafedan Wrote:
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> > -----
> > > Is Indiana broke or just cheap?
>
> Just cheap.


Indiana has an almost $2 billion surplus including funds that were supposed to be spent on things like restoring education cuts made in 2009 and a subsidy for parents who adopt children with disabilities. They had been holding back on the subsidies but recently began paying in response to a suit filed by the parents. These are just some examples of how "cheap" the state can be.

In the case of the Hoosier State, the question is whether at the end of next January the city of Indy will follow thru on its stated intention to withdraw their financial support. If they follow thru, the Hoosier State is history.

Don't give up on it yet, even without Indy's feeble assistance, there will still be a daily train between Lafayette and Chicago. Won't stop at Dyer anymore though. I had the same thoughts about the Dyer situation, if I lived closer I would gladly do it for a grand a month. I believe that was just to empty the trash can, the grass cutting and snow removal are extra.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/14 08:25 by NewRiverGeorge.

santafedan Wrote:
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> Nictd1000 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > nedzarp Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Is Indiana broke or just cheap?
> >
> > Yes.
> >
> > Posted from iPhone
>
> Just cheap.


And narrowminded too!

> >
> > Just cheap.
>
>
> And narrowminded too!

We learn from Illinois, we can say no.

That's why Indiana has 2 billion in the bank instead of having an unfunded pension liability of 100 billion dollars.

The real question is why spend money on planned failure? There is no good way to get the train out of Chicago in a manner that will allow you to offer a competitive product time wise. There is not enough traffic for several trains per day, so you you limit your market there. If you live in Indy and really want to take the train to Chicago you can drive 113 miles to Champaign/Urbana and catch a train there.

Some folks call saying no, backward, some folks call staying within your budget, narrow minded, some people call not wasting money on the impossible, foolish. I call stealing from our children reprehensible.