Existing Dispatch Centers
Railroads in and around Michigan are controlled by the following dispatching centers:
Adrian & Blissfield group - These lines are dispatched from A&B corporate offices in Westland. They include the Adrian & Blissfield, Jackson & Lansing, Charlotte Southern, Lapeer Industrial and Detroit Connecting.
Amtrak - The CN line that Amtrak uses from Pontiac to West Detroit is controlled by CN. The line from West Detroit to Dearborn by Conrail Shared Assets. The Amtrak line from Dearborn to Porter is controlled by the Amtrak dispatcher in Chicago. From Porter west by Norfolk Southern on their own line.
The Amtrak line from Grand Rapids to Porter, IN is controlled by the CSX Calumet City dispatch center (160.23).
The Amtrak line from Port Huron to Battle Creek, MI is controlled by the CN dispatcher (160.59)
Ann Arbor Railroad - The Ann Arbor Railroad from Toledo to Osmer (north of Ann Arbor) was controlled by the operator at Hallett Tower in Toledo until 2019. From Hallett to Diann has automatic block signals (ABS). It is now dispatched by the WATCO national dispatch center in Wichita, Kansas.
Canadian National - Canadian National lines in the lower peninsula are controlled by train dispatchers in Chicago. Most of these lines are CTC.
CN lines in the Upper Peninsula are controlled by train dispatchers at Stevens Point, Wisconsin. None of these lines are CTC, all are "dark" territory.
Canadian Pacific - The CP Detroit-Windsor tunnel is controlled by CP dispatchers in Canada. Other than that, CP uses trackage rights in Michigan and their trains are controlled by dispatchers from the owner railroads including Conrail Shared Assets, NS and CSX. The tunnel is controlled by CTC.
Conrail Shared Assets - Conrail Shared Assets dispatchers in New Jersey control lines in southeast Michigan, including Ecorse to West Detroit, West Detroit to Utica, west of the Detroit tunnel portal to Dearborn, the Junction Yard and the Belt Line branch. Most of these lines are CTC.
CSX - CSX lines in Michigan are controlled by dispatchers in Calumet City, IL (in the Chicago area). This includes the Union Belt, Delray to Porter, IN via Plymouth, Lansing and Grand Rapids; and Toledo to Novi. CSX also uses the CN via trackage rights from North Kearsley (Flint) to Port Huron and is dispatched by CN. Most of these lines are CTC. Industrial trackage south of Port Huron and south of Sarnia, Ontario is operated under yard rules.
Escanaba & Lake Superior. Dispatchers at Channing depot.
Great Lakes Central - GLC is controlled by a dispatcher at Owosso.
Indiana & Northeastern - I&NE is controlled by a dispatcher at Milford, IN.
Genesee and Wyoming lines in Michigan - These lines are controlled by a dispatcher in St. Albans, Vermont. They include the Grand Rapids Eastern, Huron & Eastern, Indiana & Ohio, Michigan Shore, Mid-Michigan, and Saginaw Valley.
Lake States Railway - Lake States is controlled by a dispatcher at Saginaw. A portion of the line from Novi to Saginaw is CTC.
Lake Superior & Ishpeming - LS&I lines from the mines north via Eagle Mills to the Presque Isle dock, and west from Eagle Mills to Ishpeming are dispatched by the control operator at Eagle Mills. A small portion of the line is CTC.
Mineral Range - The Mineral Range dispatches its line from Landing Junction in Ishpeming, west to Humboldt. This appears to be a contracted dispatch service, source unknown.
Norfolk Southern - NS lines in Michigan are dispatched by their Atlanta, GA dispatching center. This includes River Rouge to Toledo, Melvindale to Montpelier, OH. Most of these lines are CTC. Prior to 2018 NS was dispatched out of their Dearborn, MI regional offices, across from the Ford Motor world headquarters.
Watco lines in Michigan - Grand Elk Railroad runs from Elkhart, IN north to Grand Rapids. WATCO's national dispatch center is located in Wichita, Kansas.
Rail dispatching systems and methods are constantly changing. If you know of changes, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Existing Dispatch Centers
Railroads in and around Michigan are controlled by the following dispatching centers:
Adrian & Blissfield group - These lines are dispatched from A&B corporate offices in Westland. They include the Adrian & Blissfield, Jackson & Lansing, Charlotte Southern, Lapeer Industrial and Detroit Connecting.
Amtrak - The CN line that Amtrak uses from Pontiac to West Detroit is controlled by CN. The line from West Detroit to Dearborn by Conrail Shared Assets. The Amtrak line from Dearborn to Porter is controlled by the Amtrak dispatcher in Chicago. From Porter west by Norfolk Southern on their own line.
The Amtrak line from Grand Rapids to Porter, IN is controlled by the CSX Calumet City dispatch center (160.23).
The Amtrak line from Port Huron to Battle Creek, MI is controlled by the CN dispatcher (160.59)
Ann Arbor Railroad - The Ann Arbor Railroad from Toledo to Osmer (north of Ann Arbor) was controlled by the operator at Hallett Tower in Toledo until 2019. From Hallett to Diann has automatic block signals (ABS). It is now dispatched by the WATCO national dispatch center in Wichita, Kansas.
Canadian National - Canadian National lines in the lower peninsula are controlled by train dispatchers in Chicago. Most of these lines are CTC.
CN lines in the Upper Peninsula are controlled by train dispatchers at Stevens Point, Wisconsin. None of these lines are CTC, all are "dark" territory.
Canadian Pacific - The CP Detroit-Windsor tunnel is controlled by CP dispatchers in Canada. Other than that, CP uses trackage rights in Michigan and their trains are controlled by dispatchers from the owner railroads including Conrail Shared Assets, NS and CSX. The tunnel is controlled by CTC.
Conrail Shared Assets - Conrail Shared Assets dispatchers in New Jersey control lines in southeast Michigan, including Ecorse to West Detroit, West Detroit to Utica, west of the Detroit tunnel portal to Dearborn, the Junction Yard and the Belt Line branch. Most of these lines are CTC.
CSX - CSX lines in Michigan are controlled by dispatchers in Calumet City, IL (in the Chicago area). This includes the Union Belt, Delray to Porter, IN via Plymouth, Lansing and Grand Rapids; and Toledo to Novi. CSX also uses the CN via trackage rights from North Kearsley (Flint) to Port Huron and is dispatched by CN. Most of these lines are CTC. Industrial trackage south of Port Huron and south of Sarnia, Ontario is operated under yard rules.
Escanaba & Lake Superior. Dispatchers at Channing depot.
Great Lakes Central - GLC is controlled by a dispatcher at Owosso.
Indiana & Northeastern - I&NE is controlled by a dispatcher at Milford, IN.
Genesee and Wyoming lines in Michigan - These lines are controlled by a dispatcher in St. Albans, Vermont. They include the Grand Rapids Eastern, Huron & Eastern, Indiana & Ohio, Michigan Shore, Mid-Michigan, and Saginaw Valley.
Lake States Railway - Lake States is controlled by a dispatcher at Saginaw. A portion of the line from Novi to Saginaw is CTC.
Lake Superior & Ishpeming - LS&I lines from the mines north via Eagle Mills to the Presque Isle dock, and west from Eagle Mills to Ishpeming are dispatched by the control operator at Eagle Mills. A small portion of the line is CTC.
Mineral Range - The Mineral Range dispatches its line from Landing Junction in Ishpeming, west to Humboldt. This appears to be a contracted dispatch service, source unknown.
Norfolk Southern - NS lines in Michigan are dispatched by their Atlanta, GA dispatching center. This includes River Rouge to Toledo, Melvindale to Montpelier, OH. Most of these lines are CTC. Prior to 2018 NS was dispatched out of their Dearborn, MI regional offices, across from the Ford Motor world headquarters.
Watco lines in Michigan - Grand Elk Railroad runs from Elkhart, IN north to Grand Rapids. WATCO's national dispatch center is located in Wichita, Kansas.
Rail dispatching systems and methods are constantly changing. If you know of changes, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
