Indiana’s rail journey asks you to pay attention to the clock. On Amtrak’s Cardinal, the same stretch of track can be a morning of passing towns in one direction and a much darker ride in the other. That makes choosing the train almost as important as choosing the destination.
The Cardinal is a useful way to connect Indiana communities with Chicago and points farther east, but it rewards a little advance planning. Its less frequent service, unusual station hours, and longer-distance operation make it different from a commuter train you can catch whenever you finish lunch. Approach it with a clear boarding point, a workable arrival plan, and enough time at the destination, and the journey can become an enjoyable part of an Indiana visit.
Plan your journey
Understand the Cardinal’s Indiana route before choosing your boarding point
The official Cardinal timetable lists Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, and Connersville along its Indiana route. These stops create several possible trips, from a shorter ride between communities to a longer journey connecting with Chicago. They do not form an all-day shuttle with frequent departures in each direction.
Decide first where you want to spend time after leaving the train. A station close to the people, campus, or neighborhood you are visiting may be more useful than the one with the most attractive departure time. Work backward from that destination to the train and then to your journey to the platform. This avoids buying a ticket that leaves an expensive or inconvenient final transfer…