From The Grand Rapids Press

Rise and shine! Amtrak passengers leaving Grand Rapids for Chicago will need to get to the station by 6 a.m. beginning Aug. 15 — 90 minutes earlier than normal — because of upcoming track maintenance.

Passengers will arrive about 90 minutes earlier in Chicago as well, about 9 a.m.

John Langdon, a spokesman for the Michigan Association of Rail Passengers, said the track work involves replacing rails, ties and ballast.

He said CSX, which operates the track, wants to have the tracks cleared early in the day to allow for more daytime work hours. Amtrak’s return schedule on the Pere Marquette, the line running from Grand Rapids to Chicago, will remain unchanged.

The temporary schedule is expected to last through Sept. 1.

With the temporary change, all stops on the morning Amtrak run also will be 90 minutes earlier than normal. Amtrak stops in Holland, Bangor and St. Joseph before reaching Chicago.

Source: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/08/amtrak_to_run_90_minutes_early.html