Indiana nears agreement on public-private rail partnership

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) – An Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman says the state is close to completing a deal on a public-private rail partnership involving Amtrak and Iowa Pacific Holdings that would allow passenger rail service between Indianapolis and Chicago to continue.

INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield tells the Journal & Courier  the only obstacle is the completion of a 1,200 foot segment of rail between CSX tracks and Iowa Pacific Holdings’ maintenance facility in Beech Grove, outside Indianapolis.

He says the track problem surfaced Tuesday when a switch had to be redesigned on a CSX line that provided access to Iowa Pacific Holdings’ maintenance facility.

Wingfield says Iowa Pacific Holdings is expected to finish building the track by Saturday evening.