Hoosier State train adds business class
Food and beverage service is now available to passengers on the Hoosier State train, the Indiana Department of Transportation announced Friday.
The amenities are part of a new business-class service made available by Iowa Pacific Holdings, INDOT's contractor that operates the train that runs four days a week between Indianapolis and Chicago.
Breakfast foods and beverages will be served on northbound trains on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Dinner entrees and beverages including beer, wine and mixed drinks will be served on southbound trains on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.
Amtrak's long-distance Cardinal runs the route three days a week.
Hot meals are cooked on board and served on real dishes and white tablecloths to business-class passengers in a railcar that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as a two-level, glass-domed car. Seating capacity doubled to 184 with the addition of the railcar.
The service comes at a price. Business-class tickets cost up to $78 each way, compared to a coach fare that costs up to $48 each way.
The menu also will be available to coach passengers for an additional fee. Limited free Wi-Fi service is available to all passengers, according to INDOT.
Food and beverage service was added one week later than Iowa Pacific Holdings had anticipated.
Bus service replaced the train service due to equipment problems the last two weeks of September and the first few days of October, Iowa Pacific Holdings President Ed Ellis told the Journal & Courier last week.
More information about the train service is at HoosierStatetrain.com.
Call Journal & Courier reporter Chris Morisse Vizza at (765) 420-5295. Follow her on Twitter: @ChrisMorisseViz.
Equipment problems put Hoosier State train passengers on buses