Donnelly urges Indiana, feds to work together on Amtrak line

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly is urging Indiana and a federal agency to resolve issues threatening an Amtrak line that links Indianapolis and Chicago.

The Indiana senator said in a letter sent Wednesday to the Federal Railroad Administration and the Indiana Department of Transportation that he's urging the two agencies to "work closely" to resolve the matter and keep the four-days-per-week Hoosier State passenger line running.

INDOT had announced March 6 the line would end April 1, citing a new FRA safety-related policy it said would expose Indiana to more costs, paperwork and liability for the 196-mile line.

INDOT said last week the passenger line will continue through April 30. That temporary reprieve came after acting FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg told INDOT's commissioner her agency would reconsider the disputed policy.