A 15-year operating agreement was inked between the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority and Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad, Inc. in late March. The new “Nickel Plate Express” tourism rail line will begin operations on 12 miles of track between Atlanta and Noblesville later this summer.
“This is huge step forward,” said Toni Dickover, president of the Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad, Inc. Board of Directors. “Now, we can begin restoration of the track and finalize our late summer, fall and holiday schedule.”
The Hoosier Heritage Port Authority, formed in 1994, manages the 37 miles of rail track from Tipton to 10th Street and the remaining track in Indianapolis. The track is owned by Fishers, Noblesville and Hamilton County, and the appointed representatives to the authority oversee all aspects of the rail line.
Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad will operate the Nickel Plate Express excursions on Saturdays and Sundays, with service to downtown Noblesville expected in 2019. Deanna Holt has been hired as its executive director, and she began work in mid-March planning the program calendar.
Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad Inc. will manage train programming and marketing with excursion rail service contracted to Atlanta Pacific LLC Rail, owned by Thomas G. Hoback, former founder and owner of Indiana Rail.
Improvements to the Arcadia Depot, downtown Atlanta and on the express’s passenger cars are under way. Delivery of the equipment is expected later this summer once track restoration is complete.
About Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad Inc.
Formerly the Arcadia Depot/Heritage Center/Arcadia Arts Initiative, Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad Inc. is a nonprofit. The organization will serve as the governing body for the new heritage railroad operation, Nickel Plate Express. It will manage train programming and marketing with excursion rail service contracted to Atlanta Pacific Rail, LLC.