Amtrak reveals plans for Windsor and Toronto Train via Detroit River Tunnels on CP (VIA Rail Partnership?)

Trains Magazine Passenger
1

BTW, before I post the link I seem to remember mentioning in this forum that the New Center Depot was always intended to be temporary vs permanent. One or two posters here stated contrarian views. I am so happy to be vindicated once again by MDOT’s own public admission (insert Church Lady victory dance here).

I applaud this move as Chicago to Toronto via Detroit especially overnight is a much more viable route that via London, ONT as far as ridership.

They intend to replace the New Center Depot with one much larger. Additionally, they are leaving the door open to bring back MC Depot as a train station, giving Detroit two Amtrak stations (similar to Boston).

Here is the story link, make sure you click on the hot link for New Center station to read up on plans concerning that.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/detroit-toronto-train-plan-gets-204001271.html

BTW, I also agree that this is all just Amtrak talk right now but the plans for New Center Station were outlined in detail when I worked in New Center at the GM World HQ there on Grand Blvd. MDOT at time of construction stated the station was only intended to be temporary and would be removed in 10 years or less (their timetable) once there was sufficient funds for a more ginormous Detroit Terminal. Turns out the plans outlined here are not as ginormous as I had expected but back in the 1990’s they were looking at a final station to be retro look and using stone or concrete to appear like a 1920-1930 constructed union terminal. That was before MC was resurrected though. So maybe MDOT changed it’s plans for New Center. Would like to know more details on what happened there.

2

If only VIA had moved their Windsor, Ontario stop about a mile to the east when they built a new station building about 10 years ago.

3

My two cents is they can build a new station the one they built was not that expensive to construct and can be repurposed. Google Earth shows a turnout prior to the VIA Walkerville station that can take CN trains to the CP line after it exits the Tunnel on the Windsor side. A station located there would be closer to downtown Windsor than Walkerville is.