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There is now talk in the news around here that the Michigan Land Use Coalition (or some such name) is studying the possibility of a passenger train route from Traverse City, MI down to Ann Arbor, which would pass through several medium-sized cities in N, Central, and SE Michigan, on existing freight routes. It is only in the study phase now, and would not be built until 2020, I believe. Presumably, the route would connect in ARB with AMTRAK. No source of funding for the project has yet been identified.
Does anyone (Gil N?) know anything about this proposal?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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This is all I know. "We Report, You Decide":
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Thanks, Gil -- that's basically all the local news has been reporting the last couple days.
dns8560 Member # 15184
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Can they use Superliners on this route?
RRRICH Member # 1418
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dns -- probably, but this is NOT an AMTRAK route. I don't believe they have yet decided where they will get their rolling stock from.
dns8560 Member # 15184
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It's funny to me sometimes what new routes pop up on the table from time to time. Proposals for service where the need is clear seem no more likely to succeed than the more outlying proposals. I'm not judging the merits of this route. I just wonder why it might have a better chance at becoming reality than other more obvious possibilities. Regional support?
palmland Member # 4344
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Their map also shows a line to Petoskey. If they make it to Traverse City and then Petoskey why not keep going the 30 miles or so to Mackinaw City with ferry to the resort town of Mackinac Island.
At one time PRR's Northern Express carried 7 sleepers including a sleeper lounge and diner there. Convenient overnight service from Cincinnati with sleeper connections from Chicago and St. Louis.Your room at the Grand Hotel will be ready.
The Chesapeake and Ohio and predecessor Pere Marquette RR offered service from Grand Rapids although it appears most of the proposed route will be on the Ann Arbor RR. That's amazing it's still serviceable. From the article in GBN's link:
Why TC to Ann Arbor?
1) The track is still in place and they're still owned by the state. Often the most expensive part of a transportation project is the cost of buying land laying new tracks.
2) The tracks are in pretty good shape. 90% of the tracks are ready for passenger service, and more than half allows passenger trains to travel nearly 60 mph. Only small sections require investment.
bill613a Member # 4264
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The train's name was the NORTHERN ARROW.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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I don't believe this is the same route as the Northern Arrow or Northern Express, since that train passed through Grayling (my home at the present time) on the former Detroit & Mackinac RR (currently a freight-only short line known as the Lake State Railroad), and the proposed "A2TC" route will NOT pass through Grayling or use the former D & M -- as stated above, it will use the Ann Arbor Railroad in part, and, according to my older Rand McNally Railroad Atlas, the former "Tuscola & Saginaw Bay" RR (now the State-owned portion?)
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