Amtrak - The National Railroad Passenger Corporation
Amtrak is a federally owned railroad which provides national passenger train service in the United States. Amtrak was created in 1971 to relieve most railroads from being required to continue to provide passenger service. In return, the railroads agreed to allow Amtrak to use its tracks.
In Michigan, Amtrak provides passenger service on three lines. It operates three round trips each day between Pontiac via Detroit to Chicago, Illinois (CN/Conrail/Amtrak/NS). The second route has a single round trip each day between Port Huron and Chicago, via Battle Creek (CN/Amtrak/NS). The third route has a single round trip each day between Grand Rapids and Chicago via Porter, Indiana (CSX/NS).
Amtrak operates on two sections of track which are not owned by freight railroads. Amtrak itself purchased former Conrail trackage between Kalamazoo and Porter, Indiana. In 2013, the State of Michigan purchased former Norfolk Southern trackage between Dearborn and Kalamazoo. The first line offered trains that exceed 80 m.p.h. in a section which uses advanced positive train control. High speed operation is also planned for the Dearborn to Kalamazoo route as well. Norfolk Southern continues to provide freight service on both of these lines through trackage rights.
Amtrak has stations in Albion, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Birmingham, Dearborn, Detroit, Dowagiac, Durand, Flint, Grand Rapids, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Lapeer, Michigan City, Niles, and Pontiac in Michigan.
Website: Amtrak
Photo: Amtrak 427 is eastbound at the Battle Creek station. 2006 [Dale Berry photo]
News Feed from Google: Amtrak
News Feed - Amtrak
18 September 2024
- Amtrak to offer limited-time sale for travel between Newport News and Washington D.C. - WAVY.com
- 2 dead after Amtrak train crashes into ATV in Baltimore County - The Baltimore Banner
- Two dead after Amtrak train crashes into ATV in Baltimore County - CBS Baltimore
- Two men killed after a four-wheeler was struck by Amtrak train in Essex - wmar2news.com
- When will the train arrive? In Mobile, a vexing question surfaces over Amtrak’s Gulf Coast return - AL.com
- Amtrak passenger train names: A legacy unfolds - TRAINS Magazine
- Amtrak on track to be awarded $63.9M for high speed rail - Community Impact
- Welch pushes Vermont needs with Amtrak board nominees - WCAX
- Jefferson County Council awards $500,000 to De Soto for Amtrak station - KSDK.com
- Amtrak Vacations Offering Limited-Time Savings of Up To $600 - TravelPulse
- Nonprofit urges state AG to investigate decision to close Antioch’s Amtrak Station - The Mercury News
- Amtrak VP Lang Discusses Harrisburg Line Track Renewal Project - Railway Track & Structures
- New urban plan for prominent Amtrak site - Congress for the New Urbanism
- Amtrak train fatally strikes ATV riders on tracks in Baltimore County: What we know - The Baltimore Banner
- Two dead after four wheeler struck by Amtrak train, trains delayed - Fox Baltimore