Take the Amtrak Pere Marquette to Grand Rapids
http://chicagoist.com/2013/06/14/take_a_trip_out_of_the_city_on_amtr.php
If you’re looking for a good way to spend a few days outside Chicago, take a train trip and hop on Amtrak’s Pere Marquette to Grand Rapids. The line runs through five cities—parts of the route along Lake Michigan—and gets you to the surprisingly cosmopolitan city in plenty of comfort. 
President Barack Obama emphasized advancing climate change and clean energy solutions as a second-term priority.
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CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn announced today that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has named Illinois to lead the multi-state procurement of next-generation locomotives for high-speed rail. With the consent of the partnering states, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will lead the effort to procure at least 35 next-generation diesel locomotives for high-speed passenger trains on behalf of five states – Illinois, California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington. Today’s announcement is part of the governor’s commitment to bring Illinois’ and our nation’s transportation systems into the 21st century.
“This decision by the federal government is a testament to Illinois’ role as a national leader in high-speed rail,” Governor Quinn said. “This important multi-state procurement is a key to success for high-speed rail throughout the nation, and I have directed my administration to move forward quickly.”
The FRA has allocated $808 million to build the next generation of passenger rail equipment, including 35 new locomotives and 130 bi-level rail cars. As lead agency, IDOT will manage and oversee the procurement, involve the other states in planning and implementing the procurement process, develop a detailed project plan, and coordinate the review of the procurement among the involved states and FRA.
“Following significant analysis and consideration, FRA recommends that IDOT be the lead agency for the multi-state locomotive procurement,” the FRA stated in their decision letter. “We are confident that your team – jointly with the significant contributions from California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington – will manage the procurement process and stakeholder involvement that will lead to a successful contract award.”
“We are thrilled in Illinois to have the confidence of the FRA and Governor Quinn as we move forward with this crucial procurement effort,” Illinois Secretary of Transportation Ann L. Schneider said. “Our goal is to offer 110-mile-per-hour service on at least 75 percent of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor – the segment from Dwight to Alton – by the end of 2015, and these locomotives are the key to achieving that goal. It takes time to build these complex and powerful engines, however, and we are moving quickly to get this procurement under way as soon as possible.”
Last year, IDOT was part of a multi-state procurement of the 130 next-generation bi-level rail cars for high-speed service, an effort led by the state of California. That procurement resulted in the selection of Nippon-Sharyo, which is building the rail cars from its plant in Rochelle, Illinois, including the 88 cars to be used on Midwest high-speed corridors. The Rochelle plant opened in 2012 and has created 250 jobs in Illinois.
Illinois debuted 110-mph service on a 15-mile segment of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor from Dwight to Pontiac in fall 2012, and IDOT is working with the private railroads and FRA to ensure that positive train control requirements and all needed track and crossing improvements are completed in order to expand 110-mph service as much as possible in the years ahead. The FRA in December provided a Record of Decision on the entire Chicago-St. Louis corridor, allowing Illinois to begin in-depth corridor segment studies and specific project studies to move toward high-speed service on the other 25 percent of the corridor as soon as possible, including segments from Joliet to Chicago and from Alton to St. Louis. The segment from Dwight to Joliet is under development and is expected to offer 110-mph service in 2017.
Illinois also is working in close partnership with the state of Michigan to establish 110-mph service from Chicago to Detroit as the next Midwest segment targeted to run at higher speeds.
The state helps fund 28 Amtrak trains serving four corridors including those from Chicago to Milwaukee and St. Louis. The partnership with Amtrak has led to a steady increase in ridership in recent years. The state-supported corridors together carried a record 1.8 million passengers last year. Ridership growth in Illinois has been exceptional, up more than 92 percent overall since 2006, and up on the Chicago to St. Louis corridor by 224 percent.
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The Department of Transportation and Amtrak are planning some big maintenance projects for the three major Michigan routes in the coming months.
Janet Foren is with the M-DOT. She says the partnership between the department and Amtrak to improve the routes is vital for the future of efficient rail travel in Michigan.
“We will see all new cars on Amtrak routes in the next few years that work is obviously going to keep people working. And also as the maintenance along the tracks is taking place that’s going to keep people working as well.”
http://www.michiganradio.org/post/major-amtrak-improvements-scheduled-spring
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/02/14/mich-gearing-up-for-high-speed-trains-expansion/
http://www.rtands.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-michigan-dot-gear-up-for-track-improvements.html?channel=279
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130214/NEWS01/130219913/mdot-amtrak-gear-up-for-high-speed-trains-expansion#
Amtrak has ways to avoid driving, have fun and save money with 20 percent discounts on several Midwestern trains for travel from now through March 31.
Discounts are available on Amtrak routes between Chicago and downstate Illinois, including on Lincoln Service, Illinois Zephyr/Carl Sandburg, and Illini/Saluki. In addition, savings are available on Wolverine Service, Blue Water, and Pere Marquette routes between Michigan and Chicago and on the Missouri River Runner between Kansas City and St. Louis.
Complete your plans now for the lowest fares and best schedules, since these routes are heavily travelled and Amtrak has set ridership records for nine of the last ten years.
Terms and conditions vary, but big savings are possible by booking through the “Deals” tab at Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAILor by visiting a staffed Amtrak station.
Below are just a few of the special prices available (adult fares, each way, as low as):
Chicago To Springfield $16.00 Chicago To Detroit $26.40
Chicago To St. Louis $20.80 Chicago To Grand Rapids $24.80
Chicago To Carbondale $26.40 Chicago To Port Huron $22.40
Chicago To Quincy $21.60 Kansas City To St. Louis $23.20
Ticketing can be done using Amtrak eTicketing and your boarding documents can be self-printed printed at home or office, or at a staffed station or by using an Amtrak Quik-TrakSM kiosk. Some blackout dates apply and other applicable restrictions, including advance reservation and purchase requirements are displayed on Amtrak.com.
Post Link: http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/413/164/Amtrak-Midwest-Fare-Promotion-ATK-13-005.pdf
Amtrak is adding more trains to its Wolverine route between Ann Arbor and Chicago in anticipation of a busy Thanksgiving weekend.
The passenger train service has deployed additional rail cars for the holiday, but spokesman Marc Magliari said this is the first time in his 13 years with Amtrak that it’s offering four more trains along the Wolverine route for Thanksgiving.
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Post Link: http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/10/amtrak_adding_trains_through_m.html
Starting next week, Amtrak’s Grand Rapids-to-Chicago line will undergo a scheduling tweak that will see a (slightly) later departure time from Michigan.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari confirmed the Pere Marquette train will depart Grand Rapids at 7:40 a.m. starting Monday, Sept. 17, five minutes later than it does now.
The return train from Chicago will depart at 4:55 p.m. starting next week, 25 minutes earlier than the current 5:20 p.m. train.
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Post Link: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/09/amtrak_tweaks_grand_rapids-to-.html
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has initiated a program to evaluate passenger rail improvements for the Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac passenger rail corridor. The program is being prepared in partnership with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and in association with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
The purpose of the program is to improve intercity mobility by providing an improved passenger rail service that would be a competitive transportation alternative to automobile, bus and air service between Chicago and Detroit/Pontiac, Mich. The program will provide sufficient information for the FRA to potentially support future decisions to fund and implement a major investment in the passenger rail corridor.
This website is being provided to keep you informed about the program and to provide opportunities for you to give input.
The public is welcome to come anytime between 4 and 7 p.m. to review the displays and talk with staff. A presentation will be given at 4:30 p.m. and repeated at 6 p.m. The same information will be presented at each meeting.
Illinois
Wednesday, September 12, 4 to 7 p.m.
Chicago Union Station
Union Gallery Room (off the Great Hall)
500 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL
Indiana
Thursday, September 13, 4 to 7 p.m.
Michigan City/City Hall
100 E. Michigan Blvd., Michigan City, IN
Michigan
Wednesday, September 26, 4 to 7 p.m.
Double Tree by Hilton Hotel
5801 Southfield Expressway, Dearborn, MI
Thursday, September 27, 4 to 7 p.m.
Radisson Plaza Hotel
100 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI
(Parking validation will be provided for the Radisson parking garage.)
The head of the Federal Railroad Administration says improved passenger train service is crucial for Michigan’s future. Joe Szabo was in Michigan Tuesday to talk about the benefits of hi-speed passenger rail service.
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Post Link: http://wmuk.org/news/select/309951/Federal_official_promotes_faster_Amtrak_service_in_Michigan
