The new venture cars are getting a lot of attention!

Recently the High Speed Rail Alliance posted about the new trains along with a review of the fleet from The Points Guy, a website devoted to travel.

Rail supporter, Seth Reynolds, also rode the new train and shared pictures from the inaugural run of the new Midwest Venture Cars on train 303 bound for St Louis.

He said “It’s exciting to be onboard new equipment. The cars have a fresh feel, clean carpeting, have soft lights, a fairly smooth ride, and oversized windows. You want to get dibs on the four top in the middle of each car. “

Thanks for sharing with MARP!

If you thought you saw bi-level commuter rail cars along the railroads between Pontiac and Jackson Nov. 10-14, 2012, you weren’t seeing things.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in conjunction with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments were testing the cars in anticipation of future service. MARP photographer Steve Sobel caught the test train on Monday, Nov. 12 in Pontiac.

MDOT owns the refurbished cars and had taken them out for testing required by the Federal Railroad Administration prior to being placed into service.

Two commuter rail routes have been discussed the past few years including Ann Arbor to Detroit and Ann Arbor to Livingston County.

Don’t hold your breath for service to begin anytime soon. Both agencies said they have not set a date for service to begin.