Passenger Trains > It's Indiana and Iowa Pacific. And Amtrak.

According to Indiana DOT Commissioner Karl Browning, the State
of Indiana is close to finalizing an agreement with Iowa Pacific
as the new private entity which will be involved with the
Hoosier State passenger train.

Browning also said that the State and Amtrak are close to an
extension of their current operating agreement, which runs
to the end of January.

Browning's statements were in response to State Rep. Dan Truitt,
an advocate for the Hoosier State.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/25/15 18:29 by GenePoon.

Gene, just to be clear, the Hoosier State will continue to be run by Amtrak. Iowa Pacific's support will be around rolling stock and on-board service, but Amtrak crews will continue to operate the train as we have said all along...

eee Wrote:
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> Gene, just to be clear, the Hoosier State will
> continue to be run by Amtrak. Iowa Pacific's
> support will be around rolling stock and on-board
> service, but Amtrak crews will continue to operate
> the train as we have said all along...

Best of luck, and I hope you succeed.

It should be interesting.

Sounds like an interesting experiment, sort of a private/public partnership each with its own role. I think there is much to be learned.


Marty Bernard

Nothing gained here at all.

Yep, no difference. Nothing to see here, just move along, now.

cutboy2 Wrote:
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> Nothing gained here at all.

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Sort of like the Adirondack in the 1970's with D&H / NYS-DOT equipment, even with some ex-Erie heavyweights.

eee, on the days that the Cardinal runs, will your equipment be added on between Chicago and Indy?

Good news.. good luck eee......

No, except there will be some deadhead moves.

ts1457 Wrote:
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> eee, on the days that the Cardinal runs, will your
> equipment be added on between Chicago and Indy?

When Hoosier State coaches are added to and booked on the Cardinal, is the local ridership credited to the Cardinal or the Hoosier State ?

I'm glad to see this service being upgraded. Let's not forget, though, that the biggest ridership builder is frequency of service, which translates into convenience. This corridor needs at least the same number of trains as St. Louis, IMO. And a quicker exit/entrance on the South Side of Chicago wouldn't hurt, either.

The Hoosier State ridership is for the four days it operates. Any rider on the Cardinal is credited to the Cardinal. To be clear, if we reach agreement and provide cars, they will not be on the Cardinal except in deadhead service.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> When Hoosier State coaches are added to and booked
> on the Cardinal, is the local ridership credited
> to the Cardinal or the Hoosier State ?

Hope they use their dome cars

eee Wrote:
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> The Hoosier State ridership is for the four days
> it operates. Any rider on the Cardinal is
> credited to the Cardinal. To be clear, if we
> reach agreement and provide cars, they will not be
> on the Cardinal except in deadhead service.

Not having the same level of service daily will be a drawback. Hopefully this is only a first step (eee, I have doubts that you would be involved if there is not hope for more later).

Cardinal revenue numbers will suffer. Amtrak shot themselves in the foot (again).

I think of rail transport business as people who "need" the train and those that "want" to ride.

From what I hear of the current Hoosier State, you mostly have people who need the train, having little other choices,
not to be too brutal, last resort.

This new service would hopefully add a lot of people who want to ride. There will be some news buzz,
hopefully groups will book for a trip. The current service has a lot of negativity to it. Hopefully the new service will shake that.

"IF" the train can stay on time a people will see the train as a positive alternative, a good experience, not a last choice. As it stands, a slow coach ride does not seem to be a very attractive to anything else.

Bob

cutboy2 Wrote:
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> Nothing gained here at all.


That seems overly pessimistic. Have you not ridden the ski train lately?

Joe, I think this will be accretive to the Cardinal as well. People who take the Hoosier State in one direction will need to take the Cardinal back on a day the Hoosier State doesn't run, so the efforts we put forth to increase ridership on the Hoosier State should benefit the Cardinal as well.

We agree (and I think Amtrak and INDOT agree) that the way to success in this corridor is to have more and faster trains. Illinois DOT has spent maybe $1 billion on Chicago St. Louis to build the speed and capacity needed, but they have been focused on improving train service for many years. CSX and the other host railroads would need similar improvements to the Hoosier State corridor. What is happening in the Hoosier State corridor is really the first step of many that need to be taken, and we hope to be a part of working with Amtrak, INDOT and the freight railroads over the next several years to make those improvements.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Cardinal revenue numbers will suffer. Amtrak shot
> themselves in the foot (again).

Yes, actually, here's a photo of the train, and we have our own bus that will take you to Gore Mountain.

darkcloud Wrote:
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> cutboy2 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Nothing gained here at all.
>
>
> That seems overly pessimistic. Have you not
> ridden the ski train lately?

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