The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced that beginning March 1, 2017, Amtrak will start supplying railcars, locomotives and on-board services to the Hoosier State passenger train. Amtrak will also continue to provide train crews and coordinate with private railroads that own the track.
The Hoosier State operates four days per week between Indianapolis and Chicago with intermediate stops in Crawfordsville, Dyer, Lafayette and Rensselaer. On the other days of the week, these communities are served by the Cardinal train, which operates between New York City and Chicago.
IDOT and on-line communities are planning to make on-board amenities available for customers, including Wi-Fi and business class seating. On-board services will be finalized after contracts with Amtrak are amended.
Indiana and 17 other states contract with Amtrak to provide short-distance, intercity passenger rail services.