Passenger Trains > Traverse City Ann Arbor train Service.

https://www.traverseticker.com/news/traverse-city-ann-arbor-train-service-could-generate-100m-annually-report-finds/

The transit time between AnnArbor and TVC is reasonable at 60mph.  I wouldn't spend the extra millions on track upgrades to get a 110mph service.

Get the initial 60mph service up and running and spend the extra money on local projects which otherwise might be earmarked to build hi speed rail.  

Add on a dome car!

Always money for a study.

Might work as long as Amtrak has no part in it.

Indian Trails may have something to say about it to someone influential. 

A friend of mine just told me the Great Lakes Central was doing major track work on the lines around Traverse City. He said it was most likely for this. I will say that GLC has always been a passenger-positive railroad. Wouldn't be surprised if they'll be operating the trains as well.

Driving time: 3:42 based on Google estimate. 

What was the last regular passenger train (pre-Amtrak) to run on this route?

How many passengers did this train carry annually?

What types of transit competition existed at that time? airplanes on North Central?  buses on whoever?  interstate highways?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/18 13:57 by chakk.

lmao! They will study it to death, lierally! Maybe the state could figure out another Chicago GR train, or a GR to Lansing to Ann Arbor to Detroit train.

chakk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What was the last regular passenger train
> (pre-Amtrak) to run on this route?
>
> How many passengers did this train carry
> annually?
>
> What types of transit competition existed at that
> time? airplanes on North Central?  buses on
> whoever?  interstate highways?
 
Ann Arbor trains were gone in the early 50s, I believe. The Nothern Arrow on the GR&I served Cadillac but not TC. It was summer only and last runs were in 1961. C&O operated Grand Rapids-Traverse City via Baldwin and Manistee.That was dropped in 1965.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/18 11:57 by cnr6776.

I'm no Michigan expert but it seems to me that Grand Rapids-Ann Arbor-Detroit service would get more ridership and be much less expensive to implement.  Aren't those Michigan's three larget cities?

calumet Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm no Michigan expert but it seems to me that
> Grand Rapids-Ann Arbor-Detroit service would get
> more ridership and be much less expensive to
> implement.  Aren't those Michigan's three larget
> cities?

They are, but it's not exactly easy as there's no direct line through those three cities. There has been a desire to have a Detroit-Lansing-Grand Rapids train, but the issue is that line is owned by CSX and isn't exactly up to specs for Amtrak or any other passenger trains. GLC is a better passenger partner and the state already owns the lines, hense why they want this train.

The consulting firm that conducted this study, Transportation Economics & Management Systems, Inc. (TEMS), also just hit Toledo up for $50k to conduct a study of a passenger service between Toledo and the DTW airport, with connecting service to Ann Arbor and Detroit.

I think it ended in the early 1950s and was a steam engine (Atlantic or Ten-wheeler) and two or three cars, at least one wood with truss rods.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

chakk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What was the last regular passenger train
> (pre-Amtrak) to run on this route?
>
>

run8 Wrote:
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> https://www.traverseticker.com/news/traverse-city-
> ann-arbor-train-service-could-generate-100m-annual
> ly-report-finds/

Those ridership and cost figures are ludicrous. The consultants are happy though, and that's what it's really about.

I'd post a link to the Simpson's Monorail song, but...