Blue Water (passenger train)

Infobox rail line
name = "Blue Water"
color =

logo_width =

---

image_width = 250px
caption = An Amtrak "Blue Water" train pulling into the East Lansing station.
type = Inter-city rail
system = Amtrak
status =
locale =
start = Chicago, Illinois
end = Port Huron, Michigan
stations =
routes =
ridership =
open = 2004
close =
owner = CN, GTW, NS (track)
operator = Amtrak
character =
stock =
linelength = convert|319|mi|km
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge =
el =
speed =
elevation =

infobox rdt|Amtrak Blue Water
map_state = show

"Blue Water" is a passenger train service operated by Amtrak as part of its "Michigan Services". The convert|319|mi|km|adj=on line connects Port Huron, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois.

It was inaugurated by Amtrak in 1974 to run between the two cities. Between 1982 and 2004, this route was replaced by "International Limited", and was operated jointly by Canadian VIA Rail and Amtrak between Chicago and Toronto. On April 25, 2004, "International Limited" was discontinued by Amtrak due to decreasing ridership. Amtrak restored service between Chicago and Port Huron with "Blue Water". VIA Rail still operates trains on the former "International Limited" route as far west as Sarnia, which is across the border from Port Huron. "Blue Water" is funded in part by the Michigan Department of Transportation.cite web | url = http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Route/Horizontal_Route_Page&;;;;;;;c=am2Route&cid=1081256321995&ssid=133 | title = Amtrak - Routes - Midwest | work = Michigan Services | accessdate = 2006-10-30]

Route details

The "Blue Water" operates over Norfolk Southern Railway, Amtrak, and Grand Trunk Western Railroad trackage:
*NS Chicago Line, Chicago to Porter, Indiana
*Amtrak Chicago–Detroit Line, Porter, Indiana to Kalamazoo, Michigan
*NS Michigan Line, Kalamazoo, Michigan to Battle Creek, Michigan
*GTW Flint Subdivision, Battle Creek, Michigan to Port Huron, Michigan

High-speed rail

The Detroit–Chicago corridor has been designated by the Federal Railroad Administration as a high-speed rail corridor.cite web | url = http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/factsheets/MICHIGAN05.pdf | title = Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2005 | work = State of Michigan | accessdate = 2006-10-30] A convert|97|mi|km|adj=on stretch along the route of "Blue Water" from Porter, Indiana to Kalamazoo, Michigan is the longest segment of track owned by Amtrak outside of the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak began speed increases along this stretch in January 2002. Ultimately, speed increases to convert|110|mph|km/h|adj=on service are planned.cite news | title = Michigan: Amtrak taking service to new speeds | url = http://www.wndu.com/news/022002/news_12244.php | publisher = WNDU-TV | accessdate = 2006-11-01]

Airport connections

At the Chicago end of the line, riders may easily connect to either O'Hare International Airport or Midway International Airport, using nearby Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) stations. For O'Hare, riders should walk to the Clinton CTA station and ride the Blue line, which operates 24 hours a day. For Midway, riders should walk to the Quincy/Wells CTA station and ride the Orange line.

References

External links

* [http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Route/Horizontal_Route_Page&;;;;;;;;;;;c=am2Route&cid=1081256321995&ssid=133 Amtrak - "Michigan Services"]
* [http://www.mitrain.com/ Amtrak Michigan Services Website]
* [http://www.marp.org/ Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers]