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Amtrak in Michigan

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  • Member since
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Amtrak in Michigan
Posted by Dampfmann on Saturday, February 16, 2008 9:46 AM
Some time ago (2-3 yrs?) I read in Trains Magazine that Amtrak was conducting 100mph experiments in Michigan using their conventional equipment. Whatever happened to these tests? Does Amtrak still operate at 100mph anywhere in Michigan?

Thanks,

Martin
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Posted by KCSfan on Saturday, February 16, 2008 4:34 PM

 Dampfmann wrote:
Some time ago (2-3 yrs?) I read in Trains Magazine that Amtrak was conducting 100mph experiments in Michigan using their conventional equipment. Whatever happened to these tests? Does Amtrak still operate at 100mph anywhere in Michigan?

Thanks,

Martin

Since Amtrak trains are now, or soon will be, operating on Watco lines in Michigan I hope the trains don't even approach that speed.

Mark

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Posted by oltmannd on Saturday, February 16, 2008 9:11 PM
 KCSfan wrote:

 Dampfmann wrote:
Some time ago (2-3 yrs?) I read in Trains Magazine that Amtrak was conducting 100mph experiments in Michigan using their conventional equipment. Whatever happened to these tests? Does Amtrak still operate at 100mph anywhere in Michigan?

Thanks,

Martin

Since Amtrak trains are now, or soon will be, operating on Watco lines in Michigan I hope the trains don't even approach that speed.

Mark

The STB said NO to the Watco deal.  NS is the owner of most of the route.  I think that the Amtrak owned portion - Kalamzoo to Niles - is good for 95 mph.

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by Andrew Falconer on Saturday, February 16, 2008 10:56 PM

Check your maps again. Get a DeLorme Atlas. Amtrak operates the tracks from Chicago to Kalamazoo. Then the passenger trains run over NS from Kalamazoo to Battle Creek. Then in Battle Creek the Amtrak trains transfer over to the CN line on their way east to Port Huron or Detroit. That was the arrangement the last I knew.

The High-Speed Track Control was being tested between Chicago and Kalamazoo.

Andrew

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

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Posted by oltmannd on Sunday, February 17, 2008 7:00 AM
 Andrew Falconer wrote:

Check your maps again. Get a DeLorme Atlas. Amtrak operates the tracks from Chicago to Kalamazoo. Then the passenger trains run over NS from Kalamazoo to Battle Creek. Then in Battle Creek the Amtrak trains transfer over to the CN line on their way east to Port Huron or Detroit. That was the arrangement the last I knew.

The High-Speed Track Control was being tested between Chicago and Kalamazoo.

Andrew

Kalamazoo to Detroit is old Michigan Central that is now owned by NS (via NYC, PC, CR).  The Amtrak owned portion of the route starts just over the Mich- Indiana border at Niles.  The higher speed portion of the route is using something GE (nee Harmon) and Amtrak have been working on called Incremental Train Control.  It uses communication between wayside signal  devices and the train to enforce movement authorities.

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by jsoderq on Monday, February 18, 2008 6:02 AM
Chicago-Port Huron (1 each way daily) runs via Durand. Chicago- Detroit runs  the old MC line through Jackson, Ann Arbor and Dearborn.

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