Indiana's effort to keep Amtrak service to Chicago running beyond January faces a new challenge amid dwindling revenue and ridership. Amtrak says ridership and revenue were up, nationally, during the fiscal year, but the Hoosier State line that runs from Indy to Chicago saw a 10 percent decline in revenue and a nearly 8 percent drop. INDOT and seven local partners agreed to pay Amtrak a $2.7 million subsidy to keep the Hoosier State line running for one year last October. They are funding the line through Jan. 31 under a four-month extension. A private contractor is supposed to take over management in January, but no deal has been finalized.
