March 31, 1959
Vidette Messenger
Monon Ruling Last By PSC With VanNess
Indianapolis—The Indiana Public Service
Commission today allowed the Monon Railroad to
drop four of its six daily passenger trains
because of consistent revenue losses.
As of April 10, the Monon will be permitted to
stop running its four daily trains between
Chicago and Indianapolis.
However, the line will be required to continue
service with its two trains per day operating
between Chicago and New Albany.
The Monon had requested to drop all six trains
and get out of the passenger business entirely.
Today’s compromise ruling came from a special
PSC meeting just before Chairman John W. VanNess
of Valparaiso stepped down to take a job with
Midwest Steel Corp.
“We found there is a much greater need for
passenger service between Chicago and Louisville
than between Chicago and Indianapolis,†VanNess
said.
“There is adequate transportation on other
railroads and on buses from Chicago to here,
but in many places on the west leg of the Monon,
a person would have to go to Indianapolis first
in order to travel north to south.â€
VanNess, who is leaving the PSC Monday, also
said the commission found passenger revenue on
the Chicago-Louisville route was much greater
than on the Chicago-Indianapolis branch.
The east and west legs of the Monon split at
the town of Monon in White County.
Losing passenger service as of April 10 will be
the communities of Monticello, Delphi,
Rossville, Frankfort and Indianapolis.
The daily round trip between Chicago and
Louisville still will serve Lafayette,
Crawfordsville, Greencastle, Bloomington,
Bedford, Salem and New Albany.
