Michigan Service

[Steve4031]

I was in Chicago Union Station last Saturday and noticed that one eastbound and one westbound Chicago Detroit train was canceled for the duration of the summer. I think the Lake Cities was the train that was canceled in the eastbound direction. The notice indicated that this was due to track work. Just wondering if anyone knows what kind of track work is going on. I suspect it is for increasing the speed of passenger trains.

 

[AlanB]

Steve,

I don't really know precisely what the track work was for, although one can assume it was for high-speed improvements. However, here are two postings from Gene Poon that can be found in various places on the net, which discuss some of the changes.

Posted 5/31/02

SCHEDULE CHANGES TO MICHIGAN SERVICE TRAINS .

DUE TO TRACKWORK PROJECTS BETWEEN PONTIAC, DETROIT AND

CHICAGO THAT ARE OCCURING FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER, THE

FOLLOWING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE MICHIGAN SERVICE

TRAINS>

.

      EASTBOUND TRAINS             WESTBOUND TRAINS    

            ---------------                     ----------------                  

    350 - AR DET 214PM              351 - AR CHI 1245PM              

    352 - AR PNT 905PM              353 - AR CHI  515PM              

    354 - AR PNT 200AM              355 - AR CHI  925PM

.

THESE TEMPORARY SCHEDULES CHANGES ARE EFFECTIVE FROM

01JUN02 THROUGH 30SEP02 INCLUSIVE. ARROW AVAILABILITY

HAS BEEN UPDATED ACCORDINGLY.

-source: AMTRAK

Posted 6/19/02

MICHIGAN SERVICE REDUCTION FOR TRACKWORKTO ALLOW FOR NECESSARY TRACKWORK IN THE MICHIGAN CORRIDOR,

THE FOLLOWING TRAINS, AS INDICATED, WILL NOT OPERATE.

TRAINS 350 AND 353 --

- WILL NOT OPERATE MONDAYS THROUGH THURSDAYS,

JUNE 24 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2002.

- OPERATE NORMALLY FRIDAYS THROUGH SUNDAYS.

TRAIN 355 -

- WILL ORIGINATE IN PONTIAC ON THE DAYS THAT

TRAINS 350 AND 353 DO NOT OPERATE.

PASSENGERS CONNECTING IN CHICAGO TO WESTERN TRAINS SHOULD

BE TOLD TO TAKE TRAIN 351 IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CONNECTION.

-source: AMTRAK

 

[Steve4031]

This matches the info I saw at Union station, but with somewhat more detail. It would be great if they could knock an hour of that trip to Detroit.