Michigan Services
Encyclopedia : M : MI : MIC : Michigan Services
Michigan Services is an umbrella term used by Amtrak to encompass three separate routes which originate from Chicago, Illinois and run into southern and central Michigan. The 304-mile (489 km) Wolverine connects Chicago with Detroit, Michigan, using Amtrak's Chicago-Detroit Corridor from Porter, Indiana to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and continues northwest from Detroit to Pontiac. The 319-mile (513 km) Blue Water splits at Battle Creek and runs to Port Huron, while the 176-mile (283 km) Pere Marquette splits at Porter and runs to Grand Rapids.
The tracks used were originally part of the Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central Railroad, Grand Trunk Railway and Pere Marquette Railway systems, and are now owned by CSX, Norfolk Southern, the Canadian National Railway, Conrail and Amtrak. The following lines are used:
- Wolverine
- Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway (PRR), Chicago, Illinois to Whiting, Indiana, now NS
- Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway (NYC), Whiting to Porter, Indiana, now NS
- Michigan Central Railroad (NYC), Porter to Detroit, Michigan, now Amtrak west of and NS east of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Conrail in Detroit
- Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Railway (GT), Detroit to Pontiac, Michigan, now CN
Wolverine
The Wolverine is currently served by three eastbound (350, 352, 354) and three westbound (351, 353, 355) trains. Their routes are the same, but their stops differ slightly, and the discrepancies have been noted below.Blue Water
The Blue Water was inaugurated by Amtrak in 1974 to run between Chicago and Port Huron. Between 1982 and 2004, this route was replaced by the International, when it was operated jointly by VIA Rail and Amtrak between Chicago and Toronto. On April 25, 2004, the International was discontinued by Amtrak due to decreasing ridership. Amtrak replaced service between Chicago and Port Huron with the Blue Water. VIA Rail still operates trains on the former International route as far south as Sarnia, which is across the border from Port Huron.The Blue Water runs as train 364 eastbound and 365 westbound, making the following station stops:
Pere Marquette
The Pere Marquette, train 370 eastbound and 371 westbound, makes the following station stops:Ann Rutledge - Blue Water - California Zephyr - Capitol Limited - Cardinal - City of New Orleans - Empire Builder - Hiawatha - Hoosier State - Illini - Illinois Zephyr - Lake Shore Limited - Mules - Pere Marquette - Southwest Chief - State House - Texas Eagle - Wolverine
External links
- [Amtrak - Michigan Services]
- [Amtrak Michigan Services Website]
- [Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers]
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