Mi starting a study on a new route from Detroit called coast to coast

[blue streak 1]

Another route study.   Is just my imagination or has there been an increase in studies especially in the midwest ?  It may be that awareness of impending delivieries of new rail cars has prompted these dreams.

Meeting tomorrow and next week to discuss it in Michigan. 

http://mibyrail.org/

 

 

[MidlandMike]

Just to clarify, "Coast to Coast" refers to the Great Lakes waterways coasts that border the Lower Michigan Peninsular.  The proposed service would go from Detroit to Holland, MI.  I presume it would take CSX's line thru Lansing and Grand Rapids, but seeing that some meetings will be in Ann Arbor and other off-line cities, it makes me wonder it it is going to take a wandering route to catch some of the cities sponsoring the meetings.  It would fit in with AA's proposed commuter route to Howell.  I remember the Michigan legislature appropriated some money for a Detroit-Grand Rapids study.

[schlimm]

http://www.livingstondaily.com/story/news/local/community/livingston-county/2015/07/03/railroad-howell-brighton-metings/29676255/

[CMStPnP]

I don't get why they need yet another train to cross the state but on a different route just a few miles to the North.

[BOB WITHORN]

The Amcrash Detroit to Chicago and Port Huron to Chicago trains don't get close. This would be likely non AMT for commuters. I-96 west of Det. is mostly 2 lane and quite busy.

They're considering several options/routes probably to see who wants to buy into it.

[schlimm]

Perhaps one of the draws would be linking universities and colleges, especially to metro Detroit.  MSU has 50,000 students, many from the Detroit suburbs. Calvin in Grand Rapids has 4,000.  Hope in Holland has another 3,350.  Illinois state-sponsored trains draw many students with their services to many Illinois schools.

[MidlandMike]

schlimm

http://www.livingstondaily.com/story/news/local/community/livingston-county/2015/07/03/railroad-howell-brighton-metings/29676255/

 

In addition to the 2 routes I was aware of (CSX direct thru Plymouth and the zig-zag thru Ann Arbor/Howell), this article talks about a 3rd route zig-zaging thru Jackson and presumably Lansing (missing the present Blue Water station at East Lansing).  Instead of concentrating on getting the largest potential sources of passengers (Grand Rapids and Lansing) quickly to Detroit, they are shopping around for cities that just want to be on a train line, rather than creating an efficient service that people would use.