40 years of Amtrak
Category Archives: Photo Gallery
Reminder: Come to Jackson on Oct. 8&9
There will be two events of interest Oct. 8 & 9, 2011 in Jackson:
- MARP will hold its monthly meeting inside the historic Jackson Theater, 10 a.m, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011. Click here for complete details;
- The Amtrak Exhihit Train, celebrating the railroad’s 40th anniversary, will be at the Jackson Station, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8 and 9, 2011. Click here for more details.
MARP member Nathan Nietering has visited the Exhibit Train at two other stops and shares these photos in hopes you’ll show up for this once in a lifetime celebration of our nation’s passenger railroad heritage.
Track improvements
Norfolk Southern track crews of 75 men or more have been spotted on the 135 mile segment between Ypsilanti and Kalamazoo replacing ties, smoothing the track, and improving grade crossings. The repairs are having an effect on Amtrak Wolverine trains 350 and 353. Read more at: http://www.marp.org/?p=3243 (Photo by John DeLora)
Track work to help Amtrak speeds
Large track crews of 75 or more men have been spotted repairing the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks between Ypsilanti and Kalamazoo which hosts Amtrak’s Wolverine train service. This grade crossing is being rebuilt approxiamately three miles west of Ypsilanti. Poor track conditions along the route have caused service delays since June 2011 due to speed restrictions imposed by the host freight railroad. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced Aug. 8, 2011, a $4.2 million maintenance agreement with Norfolk Southern. MDOT says that passenger trains speeds will return to normal once the repairs are completed by mid-September. Since 2010, MDOT has been negotiating the purchase of the same stetch of railroad from Norfolk Southern with plans to increase passenger train speeds to 110 mph.
The repairs have prompted Amtrak to transport passengers by motorcoach from stations between Pontiac and Ypsilanti on some days for trains 350 and 353. Click here for more details.
All aboard!
Passengers board Amtrak’s Wolverine Train Aug. 8, 2011 at the new $1.4 million Pontiac Transportation Center. The 4,500-square-foot station has a passenger lobby, bathrooms, seating and canopies at the bus loading area and the train platform. There is passenger parking and security lighting. Inside, facilities are provided for an Amtrak crew headquarters, which acts as a terminal for crews starting or ending their shifts. (Photo by MDOT)