The line runs from Indianapolis, Indiana, west-southwesterly to East St. Louis, Illinois,[1] along a former Conrail line, partly former New York Central Railroad trackage and partly former Pennsylvania Railroad trackage.
At its east end near Avon Yard, the St. Louis Line Subdivision continues through downtown Indianapolis as the Indianapolis Terminal Subdivision.
From Terre Haute east to Indianapolis, the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad opened in 1870; this became part of the New York Central Railroad (NYC) through leases and mergers.
[2] These companies became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) through leases and mergers.
Amtrak's National Limited used the line between 1971 and 1976, with stops at Effingham and Terre Haute.