![Amtrak 427 is eastbound at Battle Creek. 2006 [Dale Berry photo]](/images/MIRR/AmtrakWolverine(427)EBAtBattleCreekMI042106-7[DaleBerry].jpg "Amtrak 427 is eastbound at Battle Creek. 2006 [Dale Berry photo]")
Amtrak - The National Railroad Passenger Corporation
Amtrak is a federally owned railroad which provides national passenger train service in the United States. Amtrak was created in 1971 to relieve most railroads from being required to continue to provide passenger service. In return, the railroads agreed to allow Amtrak to use its tracks.
In Michigan, Amtrak provides passenger service on three lines. It operates three round trips each day between Pontiac via Detroit to Chicago, Illinois (CN/Conrail/Amtrak/NS). The second route has a single round trip each day between Port Huron and Chicago, via Battle Creek (CN/Amtrak/NS). The third route has a single round trip each day between Grand Rapids and Chicago via Porter, Indiana (CSX/NS).
Amtrak operates on two sections of track which are not owned by freight railroads. Amtrak itself purchased former Conrail trackage between Kalamazoo and Porter, Indiana. In 2013, the State of Michigan purchased former Norfolk Southern trackage between Dearborn and Kalamazoo. The first line offered trains that exceed 80 m.p.h. in a section which uses advanced positive train control. High speed operation is also planned for the Dearborn to Kalamazoo route as well. Norfolk Southern continues to provide freight service on both of these lines through trackage rights.
Amtrak has stations in Albion, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Birmingham, Dearborn, Detroit, Dowagiac, Durand, Flint, Grand Rapids, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Lapeer, Michigan City, Niles, and Pontiac in Michigan.
Website: Amtrak
Photo: Amtrak 427 is eastbound at the Battle Creek station. 2006 [Dale Berry photo]
News Feed from Google: Amtrak
News Feed - Amtrak
09 June 2025
- I paid $180 to sit in business class on a 9-hour Amtrak ride from Rochester to NYC. Next time, I'll stick to coach. - Business Insider
- Crews make repairs after downed power lines cause massive train delays in CT - NBC Connecticut
- Map Shows States With the Most Amtrak Services - Newsweek
- Train Service Is Largely Restored Between New York and New Haven After Outages - The New York Times
- The new Amtrak train service from New Orleans to Mobile is pushed back. Here's why. - NOLA.com
- Amtrak Service Disruptions Impact Northeast Corridor Travel - Railway Supply
- Amtrak says Heartland Flyer faces imminent service suspension - fox23.com
- Ohio Senate budget changes could make it harder for Amtrak to expand in Ohio, advocates say - WCPO 9 Cincinnati
- Amtrak report gives new details into moments before Bristol family members killed by train - Yahoo
- Passenger on Amtrak train stuck for hours near Fairfield shares experience - WTNH.com
- Heartland Flyer Faces Imminent Suspension Without Funding - Amtrak Media
- I Took Amtrak Across Florida, And It Was An Experience - One Mile at a Time
- Amtrak Says ‘Heartland Flyer’ at Risk if Texas Doesn’t Pay - Railfan & Railroad Magazine
- Amtrak's salvage center is helping communities in West Baltimore - WMAR 2 News Baltimore
- Amtrak, Metro-North dealing with major service disruptions due to downed power lines - ABC7 New York
