New Amtrak Timetables effective October 30

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Amtrak's Winter timetables will be going into effect beginning October 30, 2006. Here in Michigan, the changes will be minor if any at all:

Pere Marquette - Schedule remains unchanged
Blue Water - WB 365 remains the same. EB 364 departs Chicago at the same time but will arrive at all stations east of and including Kalamazoo 10 minutes later than currently scheduled

Wolverine:
351 WB: Unchanged
353 WB: Times pushed back between 4 and 10 minutes west of Detroit; will lose its stop at Michigan City.
355 WB: Times unchanged, will begin to stop at Michigan City.

350 EB: Times pushed back about 7 minutes east of and including Kalamazoo
352 EB: Unchanged
354 EB: Unchanged

Otherwise, Keystone Service in Pennsylvania has more frequencies and shorter trip times. The Genesis locomotives which currently haul these trains will be replaced by electric engines, probably the AEM-7s. Former Metroliner Cab cars (Am-Cabs) will operate on the other end so they can be push-pull.

Of course, eight new round trips will be operating from Chicago's Union Station thanks to 12 million more dollars of state support from Illinois:
Saluki - Chicago-Carbondale
Carl Sandburg - Chicago-Quincy
Lincoln Service - Renamed State House and including two more round trips between Chicago and St. Louis, bringing the total to 4 roundtrips each way plus the daily Texas Eagle.

Long Distance trains in general will not be greatly altered, however, train 30 the EB Capitol Limited, will leave Chicago almost 2 hours later than currently scheduled. Also, the Cardinal is having its schedule adjusted, and unfortunately, Checked Baggage service will not return to this train this year. For an excellent article about the changes in the Cardinal's Schedule, click here: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbc ... 001/NEWS10

Additional roundtrips of the Cascades, Downeaster, and Capitol Corridor (in CA) are also scheduled to begin Oct 30. Additional NEC departures are also being planned.