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Indiana DOT ignored ‘Hoosier State’ outsourcing advice
Sure seems like IDOT “dropped the ball” on this one…To start a multiple party (not to mention somewhat complicated ) negotiation on virtually the point of the termination of one contract, seem to be a rookie mistake on the part of the Indiana State Officials who were apparently, 'asleep at the switch.
Such an ill planned move has created a real problem with continued seamless, passenger service between Chicago and Indianapolis…Surely, it effects the confidence level of the passengers who would utilize that service, and might even effect what ridership gains were made under the previous contract.
Hopefully the “Hoosier State” can survive this apparent Governmental " FUBAR", or maybe IDOT wanted it to go away???
I’m a big supporter of passenger rail service but can you successfully run a short distance passenger route over six railroads betweent Indianapolis and Chicago? Can this service ever be successful?
Indiana University '83
Indy should just use Illinois model, its not perfect BUT it works and has worked for years. Somebody out there ALWAYS wants to reinvent the wheel!
Sounds like IDOT wants the service to go away; typical red state.
IDOT? INDOT!
So INDOT failed to understand they must negotiate for the right of access over freight railroads if INDOT wants to contract with someone other than Amtrak as Amtrak already has right of access. This was a reason the Southern Railway refused to join Amtrak in 1971. Southern was concerned that Amtrak would use that right to run passenger trains over its high density lines like the CNO&TP. It feared a passenger train operation would disrupt its profitable freight service, which seems clairvoyant given the problems Amtrak has today. And ironic, as Southern’s CEO who made that decision, W. Graham Claytor, went on to become Amtrak CEO eleven years later.
I also meant to add that Indiana by using other parties as “bait” has gotten Amtrak’s attention, and Amtrak is trying to go around INDOT by selling itself, i.e., the Boardman special, to the on-line communities who co-fund the service. This is an example of Joseph Boardman’s poor leadership as he has been preoccupied with the NEC at the expense of the rest of our national passenger railroad.
Why is Indiana alone being asked to fund the Hoosier State?
It serves Chicago better than it serves Indianapolis, in my opinion, considering the convenience of the arrival and departure times.
It also serves passengers arriving in Chicago on other trains, which it doesn’t do in Indianapolis.
Who gets more tax revenue from riders to the train’s destinations for shopping, overnight stays, and sports and leisure activities? Chicago or Indianapolis? The answer is obvious unless you’re oblivious.
And, finally, given the availability of public transportation in the two cities, the odds are fewer Chicagoans have a car to drive as an option to get to Indianapolis than vice versa. So, which riders may be inconvenienced more if the Hoosier State doesn’t run?
There is no chance the Hoosier State would have continued to operate under the current scenario. Had Amtrak implemented the Cardinal improvement plan, Indianapolis would have had daily service. Furthermore, Amtrak had the opportunity to participate in the RFP process but chose not to. Only when the prospect of not getting the contract and more importantly, with other states considering the same RFP process, did Amtrak decide to pursue retaining the operation. Indianapolis is a great market but Amtrak merely saw the Hoosier State as a shop train operated with glorified commuter cars and no on-board services. There is no economic justification, and certainly little political support statewide, for continuing to subsidize a pathetic operation as currently exists. Amtrak is now simply trying to punish the state for the RFP. A likely outcome may be no train at all especially with other transportation priorities in the state. It would be far less expensive to run multiple bus frequencies per day on more convenient schedules than to pay for the current service. As Mr. Caldwell points out, the Hoosier State is an intercity train and the schedule is more convenient for Chicago residents but the taxpayers of Indiana are required to fund 100%.
Had Amtrak been more proactive in the process, it would have benefited greatly by not having to provide cars and locomotives and the likely prospect of receiving revenue by providing crews - and possibly additional frequencies to link with other trains in Chicago.
Don Phillips was just down right honest with this idiot Boardman.Could not believe what I was reading.Are thungs that bad at Amtrak.Have spent may a hour watching NS/CSX trains where this picture was taken.Lafayette has its advantages & disadvantages
Typical of Indiana,trying to get by doing things on the cheap.Public transit stinks in this state for the most part, roads are full of potholes, bridgews are rusting away, but they have lots of money to blow on building new highways (I-69 extension to Evansville and proposed Illiana toll road).The state is a perpetual construction zone on their existing roads for doing it all on the cheap. Worst of all, was contracting out the Indiana Turnpike to a foreign entity to run it, and the tolls went up like a rocket ship.
As a lifetime Indiana resident, my respect for the knuckleheads in Indianapolis has been dropping like a rock for the past few years. The legislature’s primary interest is cutting taxes. They like building roads and helping Indianapolis build stadiums, but not much else. Rail transportation is a concept most of them do not (maybe cannot) grasp, nor is it something they are interested in. I doubt there are more than a handful who have ridden a train or bus (other than the yellow ones). The Indiana department of roads has no interest in doing anything significant about the Hoosier State or any other rail transportation, and I believe is doing what they can to shut it down without actually having the guts to come out and say so. And that’s what I get for my taxes.
PR
4 miles west of MP 132 on the Monon.