The Amtrak Blue Water service between Port Huron and Chicago will celebrate 40 years on Oct. 1. Amtrak will promote the 40th anniversary event onboard the train with an extra café car, offering more table seating, commemorative gift bags, refreshments, and celebrations. Volunteer hosts will be available in each car to hand out gifts and answer passenger questions.

To commemorate the occasion, companion tickets are discounted 40 percent now through Oct. 1 for all stops on the Blue Water route. Go to www.amtrak.com for ticket details.

Recent improvements to the service include free Wi-Fi service and bicycle racks in the café car. A new station in East Lansing is expected to open next year, offering more waiting room space and parking.

Annual ridership has been steady with more than 150,000 passengers each year. Currently, ridership is expected to be below last year’s record total of 191,106 due to the recent harsh winter and steady-to-lower gas prices.

The Blue Water 40th anniversary event is sponsored by the Blue Water Coalition/Shore to Shore, Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), which sponsors the route. Photos of the event will be posted on MDOT’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MichiganDOT.