INDOT Breaks Down Benefits of Amtrak Route

An analysis commissioned by the Indiana Department of Transportation suggests the operating and maintenance costs of keeping the Hoosier State Line running exceed the benefits. INDOT released the study yesterday as the state continues to talk with Amtrak about the passenger service, which is set to lose federal funding next week. You can view the full report by clicking here.

The analysis says the state would need to justify the service based on other benefits that can't be quantified by the research.

Based on what can be quantified, the analysis suggests eliminating the Hoosier State has a beneficial impact due to the operating cost structure.

The study outlines four “improved service options” that could annually boost ridership by as many as 164,000 passengers and revenue by more than $4 million.

In order to implement the new options, the study suggests capital improvements along the route that would exceed $230 million over the course of many years.

Source: The Indiana Department of Transportation