Passenger Trains > Indianapolis pulls support for Hoosier State

Indianapolis pulls support for passenger rail service
Lafayette Journal and Courier
by Ron Wilkins
July 24, 2014

> Passenger rail service between Chicago and Indianapolis might end
> before a new vendor gets the chance to take over the line and make
> good on its promises to dramatically improve service.
>
> Last year, Indianapolis officials signed on for the one-year deal to
> subsidize the Amtrak line running between Indy and Chicago after
> Amtrak announced in 2012 that it would end its shorter routes, which
> meant Indiana’s last passenger line. Now they have announced they’re
> ending that subsidy.
>
> “They have told me they are not interested in doing it next year,
> and take that as a final no,” said Bob Zier, director of multimodal
> program and planning for Indiana Department of Transportation.
>
> Indianapolis’ announcement comes as the state tapped Corridor
> Capital to take over the Amtrak line running between the two cities
> with stops along the way, including in Lafayette. Corridor Capital
> promised changes ranging from cleaner cars, modest food service,
> Wi-Fi, and on-time service — goals that Amtrak was supposed to have
> reached by this time in order to continue to receive state, county
> and city support.
>
> “INDOT has worked very hard to secure this line. Indianapolis needs
> to step up,” Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton said when asked about
> Indianapolis’ decision. “It’s in the interest of the entire state.
> This can really help us grow.
>
> “I think we’re all confident it can be self-sufficient once you get
> over the hump, but it will take a year-and-a-half to two years, and
> it will cost a little more with a private provider. I don’t think
> the rest of us can make up that difference.”
>
> Losing Indianapolis’ $300,000 likely would end passenger rail
> service in the state.
>
> In the one-year deal approved last fall, Indiana Department of
> Transportation ponied up half of the revenue — roughly $1.4 million
> — to keep the passenger rail open. Meanwhile, Indianapolis, along
> with other local government officials along the route, including
> West Lafayette, Lafayette, Crawfordsville and Tippecanoe County,
> kicked in the other half.
>
> “We had a sense Indianapolis wasn’t fully on board from day one,”
> Barton said.
>
> “If you look at their contribution, do the math. It doesn’t work
> out,” he said. “Theirs was a diversion of INDOT funds that they were
> getting from INDOT anyway. It wasn’t like Crawfordsville, Lafayette,
> West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County and Rensselaer putting cash on the
> table.”
>
> Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski said. “Without them in that financial
> mix ... there’s a very strong possibility it would mean ... the end
> of the Hoosier State.”
>
> No one is giving up hope that Corridor Capital will take over the
> line in the fall.
>
> “We’re all trying to put together a scenario where we can implement
> the new train service,” Zier said. “I’m still optimistic. I think
> this is going to happen. It’s just a matter of getting everything to
> fall into place.”
>
> One thing, however, is certain: Lafayette, West Lafayette,
> Crawfordsville and Tippecanoe County — all financially backed the
> plan last year — do not have any more cash to throw into the kitty.
>
> “We certainly cannot kick in more funds,” Tippecanoe County
> Commissioner Tom Murtaugh said.
>
> Roswarski, Barton and West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis agreed that
> their cities don’t have additional money to subsidize the rail line.
>
> Dennis might not be as optimistic as Zier, but he’s not without hope
> that a deal with Indianapolis or possibly other investors might save
> the rail service. In the world of politics, things aren’t always as
> they seem on the surface.
>
> “I don’t think it’s final, now. I’m hopeful,” Barton said. “INDOT is
> still working very aggressively to pull something together, but in
> all honesty, if we do not secure it by Sept. 30, it’s probably gone
> forever.”


http://www.jconline.com/story/news/2014/07/24/passenger-rail-service-indy-chicago-future-uncertain/13110955/

Of course, losing Indianapolis' $300K contribution to the Hoosier State would NOT end passenger service in Indiana, because there are other, long-distance trains running through the state. That's sloppy reporting/writing.

Incredibly sloppy reporting...I didn't know CSX sold the Monon to INDOT???

Quality journalism died with Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow. Today, it's nothing more than just a poor excuse to get your attention just before you're bombarded with ads and commercials. Think of a "carnival barker" at the county fair trying to lure you into buying a ticket and walking into the side-show tent.

I'm sure that $300,000 will now just go into asphalt and concrete. Sad!

rombout137 Wrote:
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> Incredibly sloppy reporting...I didn't know CSX
> sold the Monon to INDOT???


Where did they claim that?

In the article where some official says: "INDOT has worked very hard to secure this line."

What does that sound like to a lay person? I think most people would draw the conclusion that INDOT now owns the line.

The other amazing aspect of this entire charade is that no one seems to mention how CSX feels about it. Even if Amtrak somehow agrees to operate the service for Corridor Capitol, that doesn't automatically mean CSX is good with it. Can Corridor Capitol meet CSX's insurance and indemnity requirements, as well as Amtrak's?

I seem to remember a certain operation out of Denver a few years ago that was DOA because of this exact issue...not mentioning any names of course.

rombout137 Wrote:
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> In the article where some official says: "INDOT
> has worked very hard to secure this line."
>
> What does that sound like to a lay person? I think
> most people would draw the conclusion that INDOT
> now owns the line.
>

That's a leap. Most people assume the government already owns the tracks anyway. The example I cited is demonstrably false, whereas a reporter can't change a person's spoken word just because it might lead a few people to draw such a conclusion.

I assume they mean since the city of Indy won't pat their $300K, the whole train goes, even though the balance of the $2.7M is in place ?

This is what can happen when you don't have a federal system. The Highway Trust Fund is having problems but can you imagine how the Interstates would be if they were fully funded and controlled by states and cities?

Run it to Crawfordsville, then deadhead to Beech Grove.
AMT cut back their Rigaud commuter line to Hudson when Rigaud would not pay.
MN runs Pascack expresses on weekends thru NJ because NJT won't pay.

Biggest problem for passengers that want to travel IND to CHI or reverse is the excessive long travel time for the distance; especially considering that the train frequently is late. Bus does it consistently in about 1/2 the scheduled train time. Leave CHI at 6:45 pm (ET) and get to IND at 11:50 pm (ET), and maybe not until 1-2 am. Leave on 7 pm (ET) bus and be home at 10:15 pm. Agree the train is more comfortable and one can get up and walk around, but for probably twice the length of time. Only way for the Hoosier State and the Cardinal to be successful on that part of the trip is to cut the running time competitive to the bus, or auto.

Wurli1938 Wrote:
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>
Only way for the Hoosier State and the
> Cardinal to be successful on that part of the trip
> is to cut the running time competitive to the bus,
> or auto.


False, False, False. Completely false. There are many factors that come into play. The thing that all you folks who harp on the 5 hour schedule either ignore, or are not aware of, is that this train was a popular, well patronized route 20 years ago when AMTRAK was running it. Running time is a small factor in its viability. More important factors are scheduling, reliability, amenities, and perhaps increased frequency. Amtrak, for whatever reason, stopped caring about running this train for passengers many years ago and still doesn't care. The argument could be made that they don't really care about anything but the NEC (numerous examples of this abound), but as far as this train is concerned - nobody at Amtrak cares.

Amtrak was created as a NATIONAL system. What we are seeing before our eyes is a dismantling of that system. Not just the Hoosier State, but other routes as well pawned off on the states. BTW, Since this train terminates in IL, what is IL contributing to running this train? Nothing, likely. Why is that? Doesn't make any sense. It is an interstate train. Why should one state support and the other one not? How is a national system supposed to work that way?

Hard to believe a big city like Indianapolis won't put up the small sum for $300,000 for a year. There has to be more behind their decision than a little money to be appropriated for the train.

What happened to the myth that private operators would use their own money; and running trains would no longer cost tax payers a dime.

Haven't we been told many times by the naysayers that Amtrak is the worst run company in the world; and that supper-efficient, private operators could do a much better job of running passenger trains.

The Hoosier State is showing us that when government funding is withdrawn (in this case funding from Indianapolis); the "private Operator" idea falls flat.

Joe

masterphots Wrote:
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> Hard to believe a big city like Indianapolis won't
> put up the small sum for $300,000 for a year.
> There has to be more behind their decision than a
> little money to be appropriated for the train.

They probably realize that the train will continue to run, and they won't have to pay anything. Another weakness of the locally-supported concept.

Florida Joe, you have repeatedly denounced the Hoosier State. You have come right out on is this board and said Amtrak will be better off. Indianapolis agrees with you. End of story.

floridajoe2001 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> The Hoosier State is showing us that when
> government funding is withdrawn (in this case
> funding from Indianapolis); the "private Operator"
> idea falls flat.

==============================================

And in the case of the Hoosier State (and on all the other shorthaul corridor
routes that Boardman kissed off), so would AMTRAK...if it already hadn't committed
hara-kiri.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/14 08:11 by GenePoon.

In all fairness, the Cardinal should be a daily train, and we wouldn't be having this conversation.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Run it to Crawfordsville, then deadhead to Beech
> Grove.
> AMT cut back their Rigaud commuter line to Hudson
> when Rigaud would not pay.
> MN runs Pascack expresses on weekends thru NJ
> because NJT won't pay.

After Crawfordsville it would be just another train, albeit a low priority one. Would probably sit in the hole for a day like everything else.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/14 08:29 by AmHog.