Increased speeds/schedule changes on Wolverine route

Trains Magazine Passenger
1

Does anyone know what improvements were made so schedules could be adjusted on the Wolverine route in Michigan, effective Jan. 22?

2

Check the Amtrak website. Schedules for Michigan Services beginning January 22, 2018 are listed!

3

Are the schedule improvements east of Kalamazoo? Since the state bought that segment from NS, my understanding is that they have been doing incremental track work to speed up the line.

4

Mike,

Good guess. Comparing the new on-line schedule with the printed one from Jan. 2016, the improvements seem to be between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek and between Jackson and Ann Arbor, shaving 5-10 minutes off the schedule in each stretch.

The other changes just reflect different departure times out of Pontiac and Chicago, not faster running times.

Chazmort

5

Good, finally Amtrak has a train (351) which matches the Twilight Limited’s 5 hr running time of 1935. Maybe with some more investment, they can match the Twilight Limited’s 1936 running time of 4 hrs, 45 min.

6

Recent news release from MDOT confirms the improvement in the Kalamazoo-Detroit track. Also mentions th Englewood Flyover and the Indiana Gateway projects.

http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620-457977--,00.html

7

Thanks, Mike.

I think they must have finished the West Detroit connection so trains could avoid Bay City Jct. and go straight from the old Conrail line to the CN.

chazmort

8

If you look at Google Earth at

42°19’31.15"N 83° 6’24.68"W

you will see the new connection at West Detroit in the NW quadrant. If you click on the historical images, you will see that it wasn’t there in 2015.

I am guessing Bay City Junction is the next junction east along the former CR line. Don’t know the name of the junction north of there (crosover from ex-CR to CN) but it is not Milwaukee Junction. Milwaukee Junction is east of the new Amtrak station.

42°22’43.11"N 83° 3’26.92"W

9

Massive improvements were made E of Kazoo in 2015 and 16, track structure, signaling and communication all received attention. Curves receive increased super elevation, and many grade crossings, even private residential driveways received gates and lights. Others were closed permanently. It was well covered in TRAINS and other outlets.

10

Thanks, Mike, I found it.