Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
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Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
A new timetable went into effect today for the Michigan Services. The changes are listed by train, in order:
352:
352 will depart CHI 45 minutes later, moving the departure time from 12:40 PM CT to 1:25 PM CT. The train will arrive in NBU at 3:41 PM, NLS at 4:02, KAL at 4:36, BTL at 5:02, JXN at 5:55, ARB at 6:34, DER at 7:08, DET at 7:33, ROY at 7:57, TRM at 8:04, and PNT at 8:32.
353:
353 will depart PNT 45 minutes earlier, moving the departure time from 10:45 AM ET to 10:00 AM ET. The train will arrive in TRM at 10:14 AM, ROY at 10:22, DET at 10:42 (Departing 10:45), DER at 11:03, ARB at 11:32, JXN at 12:13, BTL at 1:07, KAL at 1:31, NLS at 2:04, NBU at 2:24, and HMI at 2:18 PM CT. Arrival time into Chicago is still listed at 3:05 PM CT, despite the changes to earlier stations.
355:
355 will depart PNT 15 minutes later, pushing the departure time back to 5:35 PM ET. The train will arrive in TRM at 5:48 PM, ROY at 5:55, DET at 6:15 (Departing 6:18), DER at 6:36, ARB at 7:06, JXN at 7:42, BTL at 8:36, KAL at 9:00, DOA at 9:29, NLS at 9:42, NBU at 10:02, MCI at 9:12 CT, and HMI at 9:52 CT, arriving in CHI at 10:40 CT, 15 minutes later.
No changes to 350, 351, 364, 365, 370, 371.
354 will depart ARB and JXN 2 minutes later.
These changes were made to improve connectivity to the rest of the Midwest network.
https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/proj ... 071618.pdf
352:
352 will depart CHI 45 minutes later, moving the departure time from 12:40 PM CT to 1:25 PM CT. The train will arrive in NBU at 3:41 PM, NLS at 4:02, KAL at 4:36, BTL at 5:02, JXN at 5:55, ARB at 6:34, DER at 7:08, DET at 7:33, ROY at 7:57, TRM at 8:04, and PNT at 8:32.
353:
353 will depart PNT 45 minutes earlier, moving the departure time from 10:45 AM ET to 10:00 AM ET. The train will arrive in TRM at 10:14 AM, ROY at 10:22, DET at 10:42 (Departing 10:45), DER at 11:03, ARB at 11:32, JXN at 12:13, BTL at 1:07, KAL at 1:31, NLS at 2:04, NBU at 2:24, and HMI at 2:18 PM CT. Arrival time into Chicago is still listed at 3:05 PM CT, despite the changes to earlier stations.
355:
355 will depart PNT 15 minutes later, pushing the departure time back to 5:35 PM ET. The train will arrive in TRM at 5:48 PM, ROY at 5:55, DET at 6:15 (Departing 6:18), DER at 6:36, ARB at 7:06, JXN at 7:42, BTL at 8:36, KAL at 9:00, DOA at 9:29, NLS at 9:42, NBU at 10:02, MCI at 9:12 CT, and HMI at 9:52 CT, arriving in CHI at 10:40 CT, 15 minutes later.
No changes to 350, 351, 364, 365, 370, 371.
354 will depart ARB and JXN 2 minutes later.
These changes were made to improve connectivity to the rest of the Midwest network.
https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/proj ... 071618.pdf
the contents of the above post are my opinion and mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
Seems like good adjustments for making connections with the rest of the system. When I was in college at WMU 10+ years ago, they moved 352's departure time earlier, which made it more difficult to catch that train if you had an early afternoon class on a Friday.....and nobody wanted to hang around waiting for 354's late night run east. Moving it back to ~4:30pm KAL dpt will improve this.
Also, it seems that 352 and 355 will make good use of the new doubletrack between DER and YPSI for their meet, since they are no longer scheduled to pass at the Dearborn Station as they have been for the past few years.
I still think that if 371 departed Grand Rapids a half hour later than it does, ridership would increase on the Pere Marquette significantly from both GR and Holland.
Thanks for sharing this schedule update.
Also, it seems that 352 and 355 will make good use of the new doubletrack between DER and YPSI for their meet, since they are no longer scheduled to pass at the Dearborn Station as they have been for the past few years.
I still think that if 371 departed Grand Rapids a half hour later than it does, ridership would increase on the Pere Marquette significantly from both GR and Holland.
Thanks for sharing this schedule update.
Last edited by GP30M4216 on Mon Jul 23, 2018 10:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
- SD80MAC
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
Agreed, Nathan. The PM leaves just too ungodly early for a city the size of GR. If it was some po-dunk town in the middle of no where, and was an intermittent stop, I could maybe see it. But not being a large originating city.
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
I agree 100% with your thoughts.SD80MAC wrote:Agreed, Nathan. The PM leaves just too ungodly early for a city the size of GR. If it was some po-dunk town in the middle of no where, and was an intermittent stop, I could maybe see it. But not being a large originating city.
In a perfect world, we would have a train connecting Kalamazoo and GR via the Grand Elk.
Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
The AmBus from GRR to KAL isn't good enough for youNS3322 wrote:I agree 100% with your thoughts.SD80MAC wrote:Agreed, Nathan. The PM leaves just too ungodly early for a city the size of GR. If it was some po-dunk town in the middle of no where, and was an intermittent stop, I could maybe see it. But not being a large originating city.
In a perfect world, we would have a train connecting Kalamazoo and GR via the Grand Elk.
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
There is a group in Grand Rapids that was promoting this, not sure if they're still around. The rationale was a much shorter ride time to Chicago.NS3322 wrote:I agree 100% with your thoughts.SD80MAC wrote:Agreed, Nathan. The PM leaves just too ungodly early for a city the size of GR. If it was some po-dunk town in the middle of no where, and was an intermittent stop, I could maybe see it. But not being a large originating city.
In a perfect world, we would have a train connecting Kalamazoo and GR via the Grand Elk.
Trails to Rails. Put the track back.
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
Wouldn’t be shorter unless they made the GDLK a 110-mph speedway - and that’d require a heck of a lot of route realignments - like Harriman scale.Jim_c wrote:There is a group in Grand Rapids that was promoting this, not sure if they're still around. The rationale was a much shorter ride time to Chicago.NS3322 wrote:I agree 100% with your thoughts.SD80MAC wrote:Agreed, Nathan. The PM leaves just too ungodly early for a city the size of GR. If it was some po-dunk town in the middle of no where, and was an intermittent stop, I could maybe see it. But not being a large originating city.
In a perfect world, we would have a train connecting Kalamazoo and GR via the Grand Elk.
Dumb idea. An idea that needs to die.
Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
I wouldn't call it dumb, maybe unrealistic or a pipe dream.Saturnalia wrote: Wouldn’t be shorter unless they made the GDLK a 110-mph speedway - and that’d require a heck of a lot of route realignments - like Harriman scale.
Dumb idea. An idea that needs to die.
But the way GR is growing (and somewhat Kalamazoo/Portage), a commuter train service (at the very least) may be something to consider.
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
If they can't Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter service to work, I wouldn't hold my breath on GR-Kzoo!NS3322 wrote:I wouldn't call it dumb, maybe unrealistic or a pipe dream.Saturnalia wrote: Wouldn’t be shorter unless they made the GDLK a 110-mph speedway - and that’d require a heck of a lot of route realignments - like Harriman scale.
Dumb idea. An idea that needs to die.
But the way GR is growing (and somewhat Kalamazoo/Portage), a commuter train service (at the very least) may be something to consider.
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
Compared to GR, Kalamazoo is a dump.SD80MAC wrote:If they can't Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter service to work, I wouldn't hold my breath on GR-Kzoo!NS3322 wrote:I wouldn't call it dumb, maybe unrealistic or a pipe dream.Saturnalia wrote: Wouldn’t be shorter unless they made the GDLK a 110-mph speedway - and that’d require a heck of a lot of route realignments - like Harriman scale.
Dumb idea. An idea that needs to die.
But the way GR is growing (and somewhat Kalamazoo/Portage), a commuter train service (at the very least) may be something to consider.
I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but will there really enough commuters between GR and Kzoo to warrant a commuter service in 30 years or so? I feel like if your less then halfway from GR or vise versa to Kzoo driving just makes more sense.
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
Hey, those of us who only ride St. Joe-Chicago find the current schedule quite pleasant!SD80MAC wrote:Agreed, Nathan. The PM leaves just too ungodly early for a city the size of GR.
That said, for the long-term success of the train, a schedule adjustment would probably be a good thing. But my selfish self interest hopes it doesn’t happen.
Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
Why aren't there two round trips of the PM? Not enough in the budget? Or is it CSX or NS?
- Saturnalia
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
Currently it’s the lack of equipment impeding the additional trainsNS3322 wrote:Why aren't there two round trips of the PM? Not enough in the budget? Or is it CSX or NS?
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
Kalamazoo was listed by Reader's Digest as one of the nicest places to live in America. GR was nominated but didn't make the list. That's all I'm gonna say.O Scale Railfanner wrote:
Compared to GR, Kalamazoo is a dump.
As for the PM, I figure that once we begin to see the new coaches arriving, there will probably be enough equipment to add a second round trip of the PM using the old equipment (refurbished Amfleet I's) until the Amfleet replacements begin to arrive. There might even be enough to add a GRR-DET PM, if the demand is there and CSX is willing to play ball.
the contents of the above post are my opinion and mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
The PM is a good train—ridership seems solid and it’s reasonably dependable in terms of timekeeping, in contrast to the somewhat similar Hoosier State. But with only one run a day and no state-owned trackage to provide a sunk-cost justification, I have always thought of it as the weakest of the Michigan trains and more likely to go should political or budgetary winds blow the wrong way.NSSD70ACe wrote: As for the PM, I figure that once we begin to see the new coaches arriving, there will probably be enough equipment to add a second round trip of the PM using the old equipment (refurbished Amfleet I's) until the Amfleet replacements begin to arrive. There might even be enough to add a GRR-DET PM, if the demand is there and CSX is willing to play ball.
But you seem to have a far more optimistic assessment. I hope you are right—I would enjoy the flexibility of two round trips.
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
NSSD70ACe wrote:Kalamazoo was listed by Reader's Digest as one of the nicest places to live in America. GR was nominated but didn't make the list. That's all I'm gonna say.O Scale Railfanner wrote:
Compared to GR, Kalamazoo is a dump.
That's hilarious. Reader's Digest. Quite the authority.
Amtrak in Michigan has only seen improvement under the last 8 years of solid Republican control of the State. If it was going to be sunk for political reasons it would have a long time ago. Michigan has had for the last while a very good sense of infrastructure - and a bipartisan will to keep the ball rolling on the issue.TSS wrote:The PM is a good train—ridership seems solid and it’s reasonably dependable in terms of timekeeping, in contrast to the somewhat similar Hoosier State. But with only one run a day and no state-owned trackage to provide a sunk-cost justification, I have always thought of it as the weakest of the Michigan trains and more likely to go should political or budgetary winds blow the wrong way.
Add to that the fact that is only costs a few million per year to fund the operational deficit of 370/371. Even if they wanted to cut the trains, it'd barely be worth it, as that's barely enough to repave a few miles of highway.
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
Which train is NS going to remove for that second PM?
And going way back when, the proposed reroute of the PM to Kzoo was to get off of CSX and onto the Amtrak owned and upgraded Kzoo to Porter line. History has recorded the result of that idea.
Why the CSS&SB has never been the answer to NS congestion seems puzzling. Politics? CSS&SB not wanting to give up control? NS not wanting to give up the tax dollars improving its own line for Amtrak and coincidentally its own freight?
And going way back when, the proposed reroute of the PM to Kzoo was to get off of CSX and onto the Amtrak owned and upgraded Kzoo to Porter line. History has recorded the result of that idea.
Why the CSS&SB has never been the answer to NS congestion seems puzzling. Politics? CSS&SB not wanting to give up control? NS not wanting to give up the tax dollars improving its own line for Amtrak and coincidentally its own freight?
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
I wish I still had it, but a few years ago there was an article in the Herald-Palladium talking about making a connection from the CSX to AML in New Buffalo. That way the PM could stop in New Buffalo, and get to Porter a bit faster. Haven’t heard anything about it since.
Edit- Lol, I see we’ve already had a conversation on that... viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28252
Edit- Lol, I see we’ve already had a conversation on that... viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28252
Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
Wow. That neatly ignores the $161 million for Amtrak in Michigan that the Obama's FRA awarded in Oct. 2010, and that Granholm applied for, but I guess that doesn't fit your narrative.Saturnalia wrote:
Amtrak in Michigan has only seen improvement under the last 8 years of solid Republican control of the State.
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Re: Amtrak Michigan Services: Schedule Effective 07/16/18
There's not really any good spots to get back over to Union Station once you're on the CSS... maybe over by Kensington Marsh. You'd pretty much have to have the Michigan Services operate out or Randolph Street, which gives you a Boston situation & makes it difficult for transfers. And doing so would mean loosing the Hammond stop (although you could add an existing CSS stop, maybe Gary airport).DaveO wrote:Why the CSS&SB has never been the answer to NS congestion seems puzzling. Politics? CSS&SB not wanting to give up control? NS not wanting to give up the tax dollars improving its own line for Amtrak and coincidentally its own freight?
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