The odd location of the station was dictated by the incline to and location of the Detroit River Tunnels still used by CP. The waiting room is a total ruin and will cost probably the bulk of the funds to restore. The Office tower is in fairly good shape, the elevator shafts are still in place though the elevators including the ornate doors were long ago stolen by the overnight scrapers. There wasn't much to steal in the office tower and I believe a few floors were never finished even since 1913 or whenever........the railroad never fully used or leased out the structure as offices.
Originally, Amtraks plans were that the Depot near Grand Blvd and Woodward was only to be a temporary structure.
Amtrak wanted a Downtown Detroit station at some point, they did not like the location of MC Depot but were thinking of something more riverfront and closer to downtown as the former GT Depot was. Maybe the Ford Family convinced Amtrak, the MC Depot might be a better deal........who knows. They can always use the depot tracks for special passenger moves and /or to store private cars as well.
However Amtrak wants a more substantial structure than what they currently have so I am pretty sure Amtrak either wants to move in closer to downtown or rebuild it's current New Center station to be much larger.
CandOforprogress2 everything but a train station?
everything but a train station?
They will keep 4 station tracks:
https://www.freep.com/story/news/columnists/rochelle-riley/2018/06/24/michigan-central-station/722967002/
Thousands waited in line to see the station:
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/06/23/detroit-train-station-tour/728289002/
I think it's about creating what mobility will be. Not what it is. What will it look like? Example, say for a rail commuter. Today you go into hock for a $30k car to leave in your garage all night, drive to the station 5 times a week, leave it there all day, and drive it back home after work. Instead, tomorrow you don't go into hock, you pay an applepay fee. You have a driverless car pick you up, drop you off at the station, no parking lot, and so on. What will mobility look like?
The Ford CEO talks about his plans for the station.
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2018/06/17/bill-ford-corktown-vision/703663002/
daveklepper just very very good news.
just very very good news.
Ford will spend whatever it takes to restore the building back to how it used to look inside, especially if they intend to make a HQ building.
CandOforprogress2 Good luck with this white elepahant
Good luck with this white elepahant
Great news! If only they would extend the new streetcar down Michigan avenue to it- the tracks are there but paved over.
For the first time since 1956, when New York Central put it up for sale, this building looks like it has a long-term, stable future. Granted, much of the inside has been trashed. But between what survives and old photographs, a lot of it should be able to be re-created. Modern technology has made that much easier. As a lifelong Michigan resident I cannot overstate how wonderful it will be to have this depressing hulk brought back to life.
New life for Detroit’s Michigan Central Station
DETROIT – The news this week that the Ford Motor Co. has purchased Detroit’s crumbling but historic Michigan Central Station indicates a happy ending for one of America’s most notoriously neglected big-city train stations. Ford pur...
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/06/11-new-life-for-detroits-michigan-central-station
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
DETROIT – The rumors are confirmed, Ford Motor Co. has purchased the neglected Michigan Central Station in Detroit for an undisclosed price, The Detroit News reports Monday. The company will share additional details for its plans in the Corktow...
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/06/11-ford-acquires-detroits-michigan-central-station
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