State to end Amtrak's Hoosier State line

The financially troubled and passenger-starved Amtrak Hoosier State line is being shut down.

The Indiana Department of Transportation said it failed to reach an agreement with Amtrak and Iowa Pacific Holdings that would keep the train running. The last day for the Hoosier State line will be April 1.

INDOT blamed the Federal Railroad Administration for burdensome regulations that require states with routes of less than 750 miles to effectively act as rail carriers.

"Requiring a redundant layer of bureaucracy would not create improvements in passenger rail service or safety, it would only increase taxpayer costs," said INDOT Commissioner Karl Browning in a prepared statement. "Passenger rail providers and the host railroads are already required to comply with FRA rules."

In 2008, Congress voted to end funding for Amtrak routes of less than 750 miles.

The Hoosier State runs from Indianapolis to Chicago with four stops in between four days a week. For the last year, INDOT has split the cost of operations with the Indiana cities it serves: Indianapolis, Crawfordsville, Lafayette, Rensselaer and Dyer.

Amtrak's Cardinal line from Chicago to New York City will trace the same route southward three days a week and will still make stops in Indianapolis before heading east.

INDOT was in talks with Amtrak to operate the trains and Iowa Pacific to supply the cars.

But Browning said federal rules imposed on Indiana would have been too costly to keep the train running.

They include:

Liability of up to $200 million for injury, death or property damage on the railroad.

Hiring staff to monitor plans and programs to comply with federal rules.

Making state employees rail workers subject to expensive retirement and employer liability rules and limits.

Call Star reporter John Tuohy at (317)-444-6418 and follow on Twitter @john Tuohy.