Amtrak operates over 300 trains each day across 46 states.|Photo by Marc Glucksman via Amtrak
Train travel is booming. In the last year, The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) has served 24+ million riders, and in 2023, the Indianapolis station served 18,466.
The more sustainable, often scenic, and middle seat-less cousin to flying — train travel could play a part in your next vacation. Here’s how to do it locally.
Meet the Cardinal
If you’re leaving from the downtown station, which is just a block from Lucas Oil Stadium, you’ll be riding on the Cardinal route. This train travels three times a week between New York and Chicago with 36 stops along its route, which is considered the most scenic in the eastern US.
Wi-Fi | Who needs airplanes? The Cardinal has free Wi-Fi, and you’re allowed to use your phone the entire ride.
Food + Drink | This train offers cafe service (snacks and drinks for purchase), and free hot meals for sleeper car passengers.
Accommodations | The Cardinal features Viewliner sleeper cars with various private roomettes and bedrooms. Pro tip: If you want to travel in a sleeper car, make sure to book well in advance, as they fill up quickly.
Amtrak bedrooms can easily accommodate small families for a comfortable, private travel experience.
New York City | ~22-hour trip | Coach: $180+ | Private rooms: $790+
First stop: The ticket counter
Purchase one-way tickets online, or buy a pass — the $499 USA Rail Pass, for instance, gets you 10 rides over 30 days.
Make sure you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure, or 45 minutes if you’re checking baggage. If you drive yourself to the station, parking is easy; there’s on-site daily and overnight parking.
Asked
Asked
Which of the following is a real perk of riding Amtrak?
A. You can BYOB in sleeping cars B. There are no middle seats C. You can bring pets on trips under 7 hours for a small fee D. 1 personal, 2 carry-on, and 2 checked bags are included in the ticket prices for most trains E. All of the above
Crouching Tigers Grand Opening Celebration | Friday, Oct. 25 | 4-7 p.m. | Crouching Tigers | Free | Join this new martial arts school for classes about trick-or-treating safety, face painting, music, and snacks.
Chalk Shock: Halloween Costume Party | Friday, Oct. 25 | 5-10 p.m. | North Mass Boulder | $10 day pass or membership | Climb in your costume then head up to Top Out Cafe for drinks and dancing.
Saturday, Oct. 26
Ghosts and Goblins 5K/2K | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Carmel High School | $35+ | Race to support Carmel Clay students + unwind post-run with music and refreshments.
VoltCon 2024! | Saturday, Oct. 26-Sunday, Oct. 27 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Wyndham Indianapolis West | $20+ | Experience this weekend-long tribute to vintage robot-related animation, toys, and collectibles.
Indiana Fear Farm | Friday, Oct. 25-Sunday, Oct. 27 | Times vary | Indiana Fear Farm | $16+ | Experience spine-chilling scares on the haunted hayride and in the slaughter barn.
The city is requesting proposals from developers for three dilapidated properties on the former Central State campus. The historic hospital on the near west side closed in 1994 and has been undergoing revitalization with new housing developments, commercial businesses, and an IMPD facility. Proposals are due Friday, Dec. 13. (IndyStar)
Community
Following an EPA directive requiring replacement of lead pipes within 10 years, Citizens Energy is sending 75,000 Indy-area customers information about the lines on their property. If you don’t receive a letter, your lines are non-lead; if you do, Citizens will follow up with next steps + a replacement ETA. (WTHR)
Cause
Tomorrow, nonprofit Home Repairs for Good will hold its annual Fall Repair Fest, helping Martindale-Brightwood residents prep their homes for winter. Volunteer to help clean gutters, rake lawns, and install needed accessibility features. (WRTV)
Plan Ahead
Halloween is less than a week away. If you’re planning on taking little ghosts + goblins trick-or-treating, check out hours for 35+ central Indiana cities. (IndyStar)
Trending
Indy’s got a lot of little chefs. The Circle City ranked No. 15 on Orkin’s 2024 list of the rattiest cities in America. Data for the list was collected by tracking new residential rodent treatments between Sept. 1, 2023 and Aug. 31, 2024.
Read
John Green fans, prepare your reading glasses — and tissues. The Indy-based author announced his nonfiction book “Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection” will be released on March 18, 2025. Until then, grab reads from other local authors. (IBJ)
Sports
Notre Dame has a clear path to the College Football Playoffs, and may even end up hosting. Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the Fighting Irishwith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcast.
Arts
Get ready to go upside, inside out with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as they perform “La Vida Loca,” a celebration of Latin pop’s greatest hits from the nineties and early aughts. Bop along in person on Friday, Nov. 8, or Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. Grab tickets.*
Eat
Looking for a new local restaurant to try? Enter: Chill’n Camp Tea & BBQ, a camp-themed restaurant located at 5919 E. 82nd St. serving Chinese barbecue, noodles, bao buns, boba tea, and more tasty Asian dishes. Psst… You can eat in or order takeout online. Browse the menu.*
Category
Development
🚧 We’ll just levee this here
Elanco is currently based in Greenfield. | Photo via RATIO | CSO LLC
Pop quiz: Remember the Elanco Animal Health Inc. headquarters currently under construction west of downtown? While the 220,000-sqft building will take up a big chunk of space, what will sit on the rest of the 40-acre lot?
To be honest, we don’t have an answer yet — but one may be coming soon. The Indiana Economic Development Corp. is seeking multiple buyers for 30 acres at the site, with prospective usage ranging from research to housing to retail.
Here’s how the new plan, which splits the area into 18 lots, breaks down:
550,000 sqft of research + development hub space
1.6 million sqft of housing space
1.2 million sqft of office space
290,000 sqft of retail space
While the site waits for its new occupants, it’s also been christened with a new name: Levee. It’s a nod to both the nearby White River and the Latin word “levare,” which means “to lift up.”
The Buy
The Buy
An emergency roadside kit. The 90-piece set comes with a LED headlamp, tire repair kit, jumper cables, window breaker and seat belt cutter, first aid kit, and more.
Speaking of trains: If you’re looking to take a slightly shorter but extremely jolly ride, tickets are already on sale for the Nickel Plate Express’ Reindeer Express. The first train departs on Saturday, Nov. 16.
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