Calling a proposal to reinstate high speed passenger rail service “sophisticated and expensive,” members of Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association told Warsaw residents last night that the best case scenario would see such service implemented in the year 2020.

Richard Davis and Fred Lanahan of NIPRA and Pam Holocher, representing the city of Fort Wayne, attended the Warsaw Common Council meeting last night to talk about the proposed plan. It began with a short summary by Brad Bishop of OrthoWorx who noted that, in 2009, OrthoWorx completed a local study that identified what the impact of high speed rail service would be for the orthopedic industry. “We found it would save tens of millions of dollars over time,” he said.

Davis, management consultant for NIPRA, presented a PowerPoint display of the proposed Northern Indiana/Ohio Passenger Rail Corridor that is projected to run from Columbus International Airport in Ohio to Chicago’s Union Station. Stops along the route in Indiana would include Fort Wayne, Warsaw, Plymouth, Valparaiso and Gary.

In Ohio, stops would be in Lima, Kenton, Marysville and the end of the line would be the Columbus International Airport. The future may hold high speed rail service from Chicago to Pittsburg, Pa. Total cost of the project would be about $1.2 billion.

“Train travel is coming back into its own,” said Davis, noting that travel patterns are evolving, younger people are waiting longer to buy vehicles and people are looking for more economical ways to travel. He also explained that, along the proposed rail, there are nearly 1 million college students who could benefit from the service.

“We want businesses to profit from the rails,” Davis added, explaining how business executives would be able to travel more quickly and efficiently by being able to conduct conference calls and access wi-fi on the passenger trains which means fewer lulls in their productivity.

The most likely train that would be used, should the high speed rail service be implemented, would be a Talgo T21 capable of speeds of 110 mph. “That means, from Warsaw, 20 minutes to Fort Wayne or 1 hour and 18 minutes to Chicago,” Davis explained.

Although an initial feasibility study was completed at the cost of $100,000, the next phase is a $2 million study – to be paid for equally between Indiana and Ohio – that would involve extensive public input and obtaining commitments from both public and private sectors for initial funding.

Davis explained that the high speed passenger rail line would largely access the existing CSX line. “That’s a win-win for everyone because freight lines would be able to move faster also.” Davis said the average freight train runs at 40 mph and could increase their speed with a partnership. Some construction of new rails will be needed along the route to serve as bypasses for train traffic utilizing the same tracks.

No public or private land will be needed to be acquired for the project as Davis insisted CSX already owns the rights-of-way where any additional track will be required. There was also some question on where a local train station would be located. Mayor Joe Thallemer said it is too early to say, but noted some thought was given to the former Little Crow building at Market and Detroit streets due to its proximity to the CSX tracks and its current vacant status.

About 50 people attended last night’s meeting to learn more about the high speed rail proposal. They were told repeatedly it is “not a tax supported project, but rather intended to pay for its own operations,” explained Holocher. While federal monies will be solicited to pay for infrastructure, local taxes will not be considered and the service itself will be the responsibility of the operator. Davis said the operations will be bid out near the end of the project, projected to be ready in 2020.

“Think of it as a modern interstate highway,” concluded Lanahan. “This is an opportunity … but as it was said, the devil is in the details.”

The complete feasibility study can be accessed online HERE. To see the PowerPoint presentation regarding economical benefits and completion timetables, click HERE.