MidlandMikeI wish Detroit could have followed the Philadelphia model, where they connected the Reading and PRR stub terminals to create run-thru stations with a tunnel connection. Creating cross-town connections and eliminated turning trains. Detroit could tunnel from Michigan Central Station to a true downtown station, and then hook up with what's left of the CN Dequindre Cut and continue on the Pontiac line. It would have been a lot easier before they started redeveloping the CN station area.
Of course an alternate scenario here which you might not have thought of is VIA Rail moves the station from Walkerville to better align with the Detroit River Tunnels. Walkerville is not exactly a prime downtown location in Windsor and it was picked out of financial expediency because VIA Rail didn't have the money for a better solution. VIA Rail can use the same Essex Terminal rail trackage already in place to do this. It would cost money to upgrade the track but there are several places with vacant land along CP much closer to downtown Windsor to put the VIA Rail station. They can still scoot over to CN and use that line for the corridor but use ET and it's connection to CP for the last few miles. Do some grade crossing elimination and raise speeds on the ET track, add some track and station on the CP line to the Detroit River tunnels.
Honestly, I think the above is a better option than having Amtrak use the route to access Walkerville. Sooner or later someone on the Canadian side might piece this together...........will probably need some American help though. Perhaps even just pay to extend the VIA Corridor trains to go under the river and Terminate at MCS...........even better for all parties involved to make MCS the new gateway to Canada. Would be a significant boost to VIA Corridor ridership in my view to extend a little ways to Detroit MCS vs the other way around (Amtrak to Walkerville) which they plan to do.
CSSHEGEWISCH BaltACD Now if only there could be enough passenger service in Detroit for it to actually be used as a Station. That would be nice except that the station is some distance from downtown Detroit because of the grade to the entrance of the Detroit River Tunnel.
BaltACD Now if only there could be enough passenger service in Detroit for it to actually be used as a Station.
Now if only there could be enough passenger service in Detroit for it to actually be used as a Station.
The Detroit River Rail Tunnel also played a part in saving the station. The two international highway connections between Detroit and Canada (Ambassador Bridge and Windsor Tunnel) were both owned by a local trucking magnet. There was talk of possibly converting one of the rail tunnels to highway. The twin rail tunnels were for sale along with the station, so the trucker bought the whole deal. With NAFTA there was growing congestion at the Detroit highway crossings, causing Michigan an Canada to propose a new highway bridge. The trucker fought the new bridge and made a big campaign contribution to the Michigan Senator who controlled the transportation committee, and they cut all funding for the bridge. However, Canada really wanted the bridge and financed all the construction and would collect all tolls until payback. Ontario also wanted to buy the rail tunnels, so the trucker sold them with the stipulation that they couldn't be converted to highway use. He held on to the station long enough for Ford to buy it. In the Detroit Free Press section on the Michigan Central Station reopening, they had an aerial shot of the station with the new Gordie Howe International Bridge above it in the background, just as the cable-stayed bridge is putting in the final connecting span.
CMStPnPThe MCS Station is OK where it is as long as it is served by a streetcar in my view. The local area where it is located is starting to really come back strong and honestly it is a population density location. Originally the train station was served by streetcar to downtown and Detroit has considered restoring that and/or a People Mover extension. They have not been able to afford that yet with their other issues BUT the city is making a significant comeback so maybe soon. In my view they should have kept the former GTW station downtown and looked for another access point to it from possibly the rail junction in the New Center Area. Too late now though with the comeback. Also, operationally difficult to serve both MCS and the former GTW suburbs to the North of New Center without a new track configuration.......which I think Michigan should seriously consider with Federal help. ...
I wish Detroit could have followed the Philadelphia model, where they connected the Reading and PRR stub terminals to create run-thru stations with a tunnel connection. Creating cross-town connections and eliminated turning trains. Detroit could tunnel from Michigan Central Station to a true downtown station, and then hook up with what's left of the CN Dequindre Cut and continue on the Pontiac line. It would have been a lot easier before they started redeveloping the CN station area.
They are still talking about a MC Station trolley line to downtown. Since the Q-line was helped financed by developers, they would probably want Ford to help with a new line.
Duplicate post.
CSSHEGEWISCHThat would be nice except that the station is some distance from downtown Detroit because of the grade to the entrance of the Detroit River Tunnel.
I used to live in Dearborn Hieghts as well as Southfield, MI and work in Detroit back in the good ole days of Billy Bonds being drunk on the air during a newscast and of course Devils Night. The MCS Station is OK where it is as long as it is served by a streetcar in my view. The local area where it is located is starting to really come back strong and honestly it is a population density location. Originally the train station was served by streetcar to downtown and Detroit has considered restoring that and/or a People Mover extension. They have not been able to afford that yet with their other issues BUT the city is making a significant comeback so maybe soon. In my view they should have kept the former GTW station downtown and looked for another access point to it from possibly the rail junction in the New Center Area. Too late now though with the comeback. Also, operationally difficult to serve both MCS and the former GTW suburbs to the North of New Center without a new track configuration.......which I think Michigan should seriously consider with Federal help.
Unfortunately also, there is an attitude in the State Capitol not to do a lot to help Detroit. In my view, Michigan has been plagued with racism since the great influx from the South long ago to the old Detroit with all the car plants humming. That racism has never waned much. I had a coworker right at GM that was a member of Daughters of the Confederacy and was so proud of that without realizing really the issues with that membership in what was then a predominantly African American run city. Just a complete disconnect and that was not the only case.
I grew up in Milwaukee area and Milwaukee has it's issues but I thank goodness we never reached the level of Detroit. Milwaukee had Father James Groppi and Detroit did not and I attribute that to a lot of the disconnect along with why the Detroit riots happened. That is the gorilla in the room on why MCS declined and why it took so long for Detroit to come back. Primary reason in my view was the fight over declaring bankruptcy for the City which went on for decades. The bankruptcy advocates eventually won post 2000 and the City's rapid rebuilding is proof that was the course of action that should have been taken in the 1970's or early 1980's but I also understand in part why it was avoided or delayed.
That is the bigger story around the MCS renovation. Lets hope this is not only the symbol of Detroits comeback but also the start of some reconciliation as well as bringing people back together that needs to take place. If Detroit can do this we have hope for our other cities.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Sunday's Detroit Free Press had a whole section on the reopening of former station building, plus articles through out the rest of the paper. They said that if they had delayed restoration for another 2 or 3 years, the building could not have saved. City of Detroit got it for back taxes during it's bankruptcy. Bad news was that they didn't have the money to fix it up, good news was that they also didn't have the money to demolish it, so it was still around for Ford to rehab it for their tech center. They are creating a park where the platform tracks used to be, and the nearest track is almost 100 yards away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3k18JlBPb0&t=9sa
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyI-FPi4Wm4
New Detroit to Windsor Bridge Canada is paying for 100% (under construction):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfDzYF3ywtU
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