Category Archives: FYI

Announcements, FYI, News

Amtrak extends modified schedule through September

Amtrak will continue to operate trains on a modified schedule for the Wolverine Service and Blue Water routes through the end of September as it completes infrastructure  improvements in West Michigan. The track and signal work will result in improved reliability, a smoother ride and the future extension of 110 mph Amtrak service between Battle Creek and
Kalamazoo.

The modified schedules first announced in the spring primarily affect the westbound schedule of  Train 365, the Blue Water, from Port Huron to Chicago, via East Lansing. Wolverine Service customers between West Michigan and Chicago will continue to benefit from an additional eastbound trip on Sundays and an additional westbound trip on Mondays during the period ending Sept. 30.

Please see the attached Amtrak Passenger Service Notice for details and other significant schedule  modifications.

These temporary schedules also allow Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) a greater opportunity to  continue their work to reduce freight train congestion that has been interfering with Amtrak trains in Northern Indiana. Both Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation have asked NS to take action to improve the daily dispatching of ten state- sponsored Amtrak trains — and four more
Amtrak national network services — on NS tracks between Chicago and Porter, Ind.

Normal Wolverine Service and Blue Water schedules in Michigan are effective on Oct. 1.

The Amtrak Pere Marquette train schedules to and from Grand Rapids are unchanged.

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FYI

Capitol Limited in Jackson

Amtrak’s Capitol Limited #29 charges west, passing the Michigan Central Station in Jackson, Michigan because it was rerouted from its normal route on Sept. 1, 2014. It was the station’s 141st birthday, making it the oldest, continuously operated passenger rail station in America. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Capitol Limited had regular service with stops through southern Michigan?

FYI

MiTrain promotional video

Here’s a link to a video promoting MiTrain, rail cars for a proposed commuter train service between Ann Arbor and Howell. The proposal is also know as the Washtenaw and Livingston Line or WALLY.

Announcements, FYI

Ride the “WALLY” cars at the Howell Melon Festival Aug. 15-17

Visitors to the Howell Melon Festival Aug. 15-17 will have the opportunity to see and to ride the bi-level “Mi-Train” passenger cars that could either be used for commuter service between Ann Arbor and Howell (known as the WALLY line) or Ann Arbor to Detroit.

The cars will be available for free public tours on Friday, Aug. 15 after 4 p.m.

Hour-long rides will be given on the cars from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Aug. 17. The cost is $20 per adult and $15 per child.

Motive power for the train rides is provided by the Steam Railroading Institute and the Great Lakes Central Railroad.

The rides are given at the Howell Historic Train Museum at 128 Wetmore St, Howell, MI 48843.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MelonFest2014