The Hoosier State train, which runs between Indianapolis, Indiana, and Chicago, has been operated by Iowa Pacific Holdings since July, 2015. That will change soon, when Amtrak takes over the route.
In a Facebook comment, Iowa Pacific said it could not provide the necessary services and equipment under its present contract. Apparently in response, Will Wingfield, a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), said the amount of money the company needed exceeded what the department had allocated in its budget.
The service has been a joint partnership among Iowa Pacific, INDOT, and Amtrak. In August, INDOT noted that although ticket revenue had increased, the number of passengers had declined during its first year of operation, leading to the change in operator.
Marc Magliari, an Amtrak spokesman, said the biggest change passengers will see is that it will be Amtrak equipment, not Iowa Pacific, used on the route. The Hoosier State offers Wi-Fi, a number of discounts, food service, and the opportunity for people to bring pets aboard.
Although the contract with Iowa Pacific originally ran through the end of June, it will be terminated at the end of this month, with Amtrak taking over the service on March 1.
Changes like this can be made easier for riders if the company works with a newsletter printing company to create an informative letter for them, assuring them of continuing service.
