amtrak

Indiana will use its funding to study potential improvements to the Amtrak Cardinal line — which connects Indianapolis to Chicago — and a new, proposed corridor to connect Louisville and Indianapolis.

This funding would make the Cardinal service daily and would increase the train speeds to allow for faster travel.

Louisville currently has no Amtrak train options. The Kentucky Cardinal was the last Amtrak train to run through Louisville to Chicago – with a stop in Indianapolis – nearly 20 years ago.

The deal comes as two railroad unions were poised to strike at midnight. That would have been detrimental to the economy, shipments on food, fuel, passenger traffic and freight rail lines.

Advocates continue to push for cooperation between local leaders, individuals and state legislators to further advocate for passenger rail.