Passenger Trains > Why aren't they putting #354 back on?

I always thought train #354 from Chicago to Pontiac was one of the strongest trains in that corridor.
How can you bring Michigan people into Chicago, but not allow them to return at a convenient time?
I'm not even sure where the State of Michigan stands on this?  I always thought the Detroit corridor
was still a federally funded train, but perhaps the extension to Pontiac receives state subsidies?
The alternate service is a late night "bus", or the Lake Shore Ltd to Toledo and then a "bus" to Michigan.
Both are middle of the night options, and not really marketable to most travellers.
The Western long hauls dumped plenty of connecting passengers onto this train.  What gives?

Is it not paired with #351 which means there is no early morning train into Chicago.  I would think ALL trains would be operating.

"The Western long hauls dumped plenty of connecting passengers onto this train."
======================

If the Wolverines were Amtrak's trains, that could be your answer right there. Starve the longhauls of connections and they could be dumped sooner.

But they aren't. They are Michigan's trains.

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "The Western long hauls dumped plenty of
> connecting passengers onto this train."
> ======================
>
> If the Wolverines were Amtrak's trains, that could
> be your answer right there. Starve the longhauls
> of connections and they could be dumped sooner.
>
> But they aren't. They are Michigan's trains.

I'm not sure about that!  It only says Michigan contributes to the Blue Water and the Pere Marquette.
Michigan service was part of the original Amtrak "national" system.  Can anybody clarify?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/20 15:23 by mp51w.

mp51w Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> GenePoon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > "The Western long hauls dumped plenty of
> > connecting passengers onto this train."
> > ======================
> >
> > If the Wolverines were Amtrak's trains, that
> could
> > be your answer right there. Starve the
> longhauls
> > of connections and they could be dumped sooner.
> >
> > But they aren't. They are Michigan's trains.
>
> I'm not sure about that!  It only says Michigan
> contributes to the Blue Water and the Pere
> Marquette.
> Michigan service was part of the original Amtrak
> "national" system.  Can anybody clarify?

The classic, If you cut off enough of the arms, the trunk dies argument!

Maybe they haven't put them back on because there's a PANDEMIC going on and HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of Americans are DEAD and possibly many thousands to follow?
People shouldn't be traveling.

Sorry, but we are intelligent people and we know the risks of traveling.  We do not need BIG government to do our thinking.  

Be safe.  Wear a face mask in public.  Avoid crowds.  

mp51w Wrote:

> ...It only says Michigan
> contributes to the Blue Water and the Pere
> Marquette.
> Michigan service was part of the original Amtrak
> "national" system.  Can anybody clarify?

=====================

Michigan subsidized only the Blue Water and Pere Marquette to 2014. In that year they took on the Wolverines and now, in effect, cover all costs for all three routes.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/20 16:47 by GenePoon.

dispr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe they haven't put them back on because
> there's a PANDEMIC going on and HUNDREDS of
> THOUSANDS of Americans are DEAD and possibly many
> thousands to follow?
> People shouldn't be traveling.

No, not hundredS of thousands, only one hundred thousand plus twenty-seven thousand as of today.  We all know there's a pandemic going on, no need to capitalize all those words.  That only adds to an impression that you may be a little hysterical.  Might calm down a bit, thanks.
 

Oh please. Stay home if you are to SCARED to travel. Leave the rest of us alone. Travel is a personal choice. Not yours to make for the rest of us. Clearly you have been watching too much CNN with all they hype and hysteria.  I was gone for two weeks. Three  trains, eight different hotels  uncounted restaurants and two car rentals and so far have lived to write about it. 354 is the connecting train for the western arrivals. So anyone going to MI would be forced to spend the night at their expense in Chicago. Now apparently that's not allowed for people from some states  so they would get to spend 14 days there. How fun would that be? So I rented a car at twice the cost of the train and drove from Naperville to DTW where my car was waiting. Probably would have done that anyway. I was home in bed at least 2 hours before 354 would have reached Dearborn in the unlikely event it was on time. 

dispr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> People shouldn't be traveling.

Passed through the Denver airport on two separate Saturdays last month, both with two hour layovers, and judging by the amount of people passing through, you wouldn't think there was a pandemic going on (and they weren't business travelers...)

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mp51w Wrote:
>
> > ...It only says Michigan
> > contributes to the Blue Water and the Pere
> > Marquette.
> > Michigan service was part of the original
> Amtrak
> > "national" system.  Can anybody clarify?
>
> =====================
>
> Michigan subsidized only the Blue Water and Pere
> Marquette to 2014. In that year they took on the
> Wolverines and now, in effect, cover all costs for
> all three routes.
!
Well, then I wonder what the priority is then?  Detroit should be first for further restoration.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/20 05:09 by mp51w.

PRIAA-209 replaced 403b, which means it does not matter what Amtrak ran at start-up in its basic system anymore if under 750 miles.

Posted from Android

mp51w Wrote:

> Detroit should be first for further restoration.

Why?

Typhoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mp51w Wrote:
>
> > Detroit should be first for further
> restoration.
>
> Why?
More population, plus it's their own track!  I thought they were so big on corridors too?

How many passengers and do they really need more than one trip per day to handle the current passenger load?

 Just at the when Amtrak needs all the riders  CONNECTIONS with the present daily schedules, a passenger from any of the four western trains, to connect to major Michigan points in Chicago, must either use a overnight bus  or remain over night to continue by train # 352 to such points as Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Detroit and Pontiac. Connections can be made westbound !.  Insane.!