New Amtrak Michigan Schedule

[GP30M4216]

Effective January 22: https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/proj ... 012218.pdf

No groundbreaking changes here, but many trains have been adjusted earlier or later by 10-20 minutes. Most run times are a little shorter (10-20 minutes-ish), thanks, I expect, to continued higher speeds as the Michigan Line continues to be upgraded. Michigan City loses its stop with Amtrak No. 352 but gains a morning stop for No. 350. The "meet" at Dearborn between 352 and 355 is preserved although moved about a half hour earlier with the adjusted times.

The Pere Marquette schedule remains unchanged.

All aboard!!

[NSSD70ACe]

MDOT released this today:

https://t.co/yR2X1aYujr

[Steve B]

Very welcome news. Now 351 finally matches the Twilight Limited's running time from 1935. With some more investment, maybe it will match its 1936 running time of 4:45.

[DetNative]

Very welcome news. Now 351 finally matches the Twilight Limited's running time from 1935. With some more investment, maybe it will match its 1936 running time of 4:45.

It is already at a 4:42 running time Pontiac - Chicago, unless I misunderstand.

Also, why is the eastbound so significantly longer than westbound?
353 (EB) 5:05 running time
350 (WB) 7:19 running time

[DaveO]

Very welcome news. Now 351 finally matches the Twilight Limited's running time from 1935. With some more investment, maybe it will match its 1936 running time of 4:45.

It is already at a 4:42 running time Pontiac - Chicago, unless I misunderstand.

Also, why is the eastbound so significantly longer than westbound?
353 (EB) 5:05 running time
350 (WB) 7:19 running time

Detroit is in the Eastern Time Zone(if you fly through DTW you'll get this)
Chicago is in the Central Time Zone

Train 351 is scheduled for 5:42
Train 353 is scheduled for 6:05
Train 350 is scheduled for 6:19

[UrbanPlanner]

Run times between Pontiac and Detroit are as follows:

• EB
  350 - 6:19
  352 - 6:05
  354 - 6:05
  
  WB
  351 - 5:42
  353 - 6:05
  355 - 6:05

Between Detroit and Chicago:

• EB
  350 - 5:20
  352 - 5:06
  354 - 5:04
  
  WB
  351 - 4:59
  353 - 5:20
  355 - 5:22

Twilight Limited between Detroit and Chicago:

• 1935 - 5:00
  1936 - 4:45
  1944 - 5:15

[coasterrider]

just keep an eye on the trains.Y
ou wont see much in time keeping on the trains. The only thing that was done was take time out of the dwell times for stations and minupulated the running times to try to get the times under 6 hours. Crews are given 2 minute (down from 5) at Ann Arbor to do the station work. Dearborn station down to 2 minutes (again from 4) Running times between Arb and Jxn reduced from 38 minutes to 34 with no work done.
In addition all Amtrak trains have to flag 4 crossing in the Jackson area (and have been for the past 5 days) due to malfunctioning signals (Adding about 20 minutes in delays). Nothing has changed and the trains will now be showing late in and out of stations,but it looks good on the schedule.

[NSSD70ACe]

Slightly off topic question:

I noticed that when the 8:50ish WB Wolverine went thru Kalamazoo, the EB track signals were lit. Did Amtrak change operations in Kalamazoo with the addition of two way running on both tracks when the new schedule rolled out?

[Saturnalia]

Slightly off topic question:

I noticed that when the 8:50ish WB Wolverine went thru Kalamazoo, the EB track signals were lit. Did Amtrak change operations in Kalamazoo with the addition of two way running on both tracks when the new schedule rolled out?

You'll have to describe what spot you're talking about. If you're talking about those new intermediates, then you probably just saw the typical default lighting which occurs then a train is in the block, no matter which track they're on.

[NSSD70ACe]

Slightly off topic question:

I noticed that when the 8:50ish WB Wolverine went thru Kalamazoo, the EB track signals were lit. Did Amtrak change operations in Kalamazoo with the addition of two way running on both tracks when the new schedule rolled out?

You'll have to describe what spot you're talking about. If you're talking about those new intermediates, then you probably just saw the typical default lighting which occurs then a train is in the block, no matter which track they're on.

MP 145, I believe the exact signal set was 145.1, or whichever one is the closest to stadium drive. It was just the one signal set. The others were dark.

[9xs]

saw on Amtrak site that new Pere Marquette schedules take effect Feb 18

[SD80MAC]

Wonder if they're adjusting the ungodly early Grand Rapids departure time?

[kenN]

saw on Amtrak site that new Pere Marquette schedules take effect Feb 18

Where did you see this, and what are the details? Thanks KJN

[GP30M4216]

Based on some preliminary putzing around on Amtrak's website in the trip planner function, it seems that the overall schedule is largely unchanged after February 19. Minor adjustments appear to move station stop times ahead 2-5 minutes at each station stop after the initial departure station.

Small improvements are nice, but I agree with others on this forum. The early-early departure of 371 from Grand Rapids is not helping business. Even pushing it back 1/2 hour from 6:00am to 6:30 would make a noticeable difference, I think. A little later would be even better. The evening arrival times are probably OK where they are.