State legislators representing Southwest Michigan have asked the Michigan Department of Transportation to make a formal request to Amtrak for additional train service between Chicago and Kalamazoo, the Herald-Palladium reports.
If approved, the train service would depart Kalamazoo earlier in the morning and depart later in the evening from Chicago than trains now in service. Lawmakers pointed out the train would allow southwestern Michigan residents the opportunity to spend a full day in Chicago -- conducting business, working, attending to medical needs -- and return home in one day on the train.
Excerpt:
The legislators last week sent a letter to MDOT asking for an additional train leaving Chicago Union Station every evening at 10 p.m., and a return trip leaving Kalamazoo at 6 a.m. each morning. The proposed train would make stops in Hammond, Ind., New Buffalo, Niles, Dowagiac and then Kalamazoo.
Currently there are two trains between Chicago and Kalamazoo. Amtrak's Blue Water train leaves Chicago Union Station at 4:10 p.m., arriving in Niles at 6:51 p.m., and the Wolverine leaves Chicago at 6 p.m. and arrives in Niles at 8:43 p.m.
Marc Magliari, an Amtrak spokesman based in Chicago, said Amtrak should be able to reach a decision on the request within a year, "perhaps even by this fall."
For a list of the legislators who signed the letter to MDOT, read
the entire story.
Source: Herald-Palladium
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