Extra train from Niles buys extra time in Chicago

From the South Bend Tribune

Need to be in Chicago early — say, 7:30 a.m. — and don’t want to drive? At least this weekend, Amtrak is making it possible for people who live in southwestern Michigan.

Rick Harnish, of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, announced today that Amtrak, over Labor Day weekend, will add on a test run basis a fifth train on its Chicago-Detroit corridor that will provide service between Chicago and Kalamazoo. Among the stops will be Niles and the beachfront station in New Buffalo.

According to Harnish, if enough riders respond to the new service, the new train could become permanent. And that would be good news for southwestern Michigan in general and Niles and New Buffalo in particular, said Lisa Croteau, program manager for Niles DDA Main Street, because of the potential impact on economic development.

“Right now, there’s nothing that gets you there (Chicago) that allows us to be a commuter location. The earliest you can get there from Niles is 11:59 a.m., Chicago (Central Standard) time, which is about 1 p.m. our time (Eastern Standard),’’ Croteau said. “With this new train, it gets you there for the work day. Or you could go to Chicago and shop, do dinner and take in an early show. ’’