From The Kalamazoo Gazette

KALAMAZOO — The state has asked Amtrak to add another train from Kalamazoo to Chicago’s Union Station.

Although it is too early to determine how likely the expanded service is — or how it would be funded — Amtrak could make a decision by the end of the summer, said Marc Magliari, Amtrak spokesman for the Chicago regional office.

“It’s not a route that’s unfamiliar to us,” Magliari said. “We’re not starting from scratch, since we already operate from Chicago to Kalamazoo. That should shorten the amount of time to look at this.”

The proposed train would leave Chicago at 11 p.m. EST, stopping in Hammond, Ind., New Buffalo, Niles and Dowagiac before reaching Kalamazoo. It would remain in Kalamazoo overnight then leave at 6 a.m. and make the reverse trek back to Illinois, said Janet Foran, a Michigan Department of Transportation spokeswoman.

Kalamazoo already has four Chicago-bound trains daily. The first leaves around 9:50 a.m. and the last train returns to Kalamazoo at about 9:30 p.m.

Five Michigan lawmakers, including Reps. Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton, and Matt Lori, R-Constantine, requested a new line in a letter to MDOT.

“It would allow southwestern Michigan residents the opportunity to spend a full day in Chicago — conducting business, working, attending to medical needs … and return home in one day on the train,” the letter said.
Originally appeared:
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/04/michigan_asks_amtrak_for_anoth.html