Official: Amtrak to stay in Dowagiac

From The South Bend Tribune

Is Dowagiac in danger of losing its Amtrak service?

It depends on whom you ask.

Dowagiac resident Ron Leatz, who serves as a member of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, is concerned if the city doesn’t act fast, trains making stops here could be a thing of the past.

“If we lose it, it’s never coming back,” Leatz said. “If they take it off the stop, we’re off.”

Leatz, who spoke of his concerns this week at a City Council meeting and was quoted in another local media outlet about the possibility of losing service, says the city’s decision to close the depot in the evening and on weekends could be a detriment when Amtrak decides to continue using Dowagiac as one its 17 stops.

According to an Amtrak spokesman, though, there is no basis to Leatz’s concerns.

“There are no plans to go,” spokesman Marc Magliari said.