Indiana is fighting back against the FRA ruling, which is excellent news.  The whole idea of the ruling is ridiculous.  If a State hires a qualified operator to do a job it should not have to become certified to do the job itself.  Boardman is again trying to use PRIIA and now the FRA to force the states into paying their monopoly pricing for service.  This will not win him any friends outside the NEC.  – Paul Dyson

AMTRAK STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT AND CEO JOSEPH BOARDMAN

WASHINGTON — The following statement is issued today by Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman regarding an announcement made this afternoon by the Indiana Department of Transportation:
“Daily Amtrak service to Indianapolis does not have to end in April. Amtrak has offered to continue to operate the train on a month-to-month basis.
“Amtrak is ready, willing and able to continue to provide safe and reliable service using one of the proven models we’ve used in other states.
“We have shown how the quality of the passenger experience can be improved by demonstrating modern Wi-Fi and business class seating. We have the expertise in working with the host railroads and have repeatedly offered to be the state’s and the communities’ partner in advancing plans to improve the travel time and the reliability of the service.
“Experience has proven that losing the foundation that daily service to central Indiana now provides will make it much more difficult and expensive to create a true intercity passenger corridor in the future. Amtrak made it clear in a recent meeting in Washington with Lafayette-area officials that ways to improve this service are within the state’s reach, with Amtrak as a proven partner.”

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