INDOT Touts Improved Hoosier State Rail Numbers

The Indiana Department of Transportation is reporting a nearly 50 percent jump in Hoosier State passenger train ridership in September, compared to the same month a year earlier. INDOT and communities along the Indianapolis-to-Chicago route also say monthly revenue increased by 64 percent.

The line, which is operated through a public-private partnership, says 82 percent of trains arrived on-time last month. The funding collaboration involves INDOT, the communities of Crawfordsville, Dyer, Lafayette, Rensselaer and West Lafayette, operator Amtrak and Iowa Pacific Holdings Inc., which provides the trains, on-board services and marketing.

INDOT officials say officials with CSX Transportation have also completed the replacement of a manual switch near Crawfordsville that is expected to shave up to 15 minutes from a one-way trip. Additionally, a request for proposals from the state for a consultant to help analyze private freight lines and help INDOT pursue track improvement grants has just closed.

The commuter rail line toasted its first full year under the new partnership earlier this year.