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AMTRAK SERVICE IN MICHIGAN SHOWS BIG GAINS: 11-month figures top last
year's 12-month totals
22 September 2004 - Amtrak News Release: ATK-04-117
Amtrak reports strong ridership on trains serving Michigan, with all
three routes exceeding last year's 12-month totals with a month to go
this fiscal year. The routes include the Wolverine trains between
Detroit/Pontiac and Chicago and the state's two Amtrak trains operated
under contract with Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT): the
Grand Rapids-Chicago Pere Marquette and the Port Huron/East
Lansing-Chicago Blue Water.
Eleven months into the 2003-2004 fiscal year (Oct. 2003-Aug. 2004), the
Wolverine passenger counts are up 12.1 percent, to total 339,012 on the
three daily round-trips on the route. That compares with 326,367 for all
of last fiscal year.
The Pere Marquette, which last month celebrated its 20th year of service
in Michigan, was also up strongly: 81,489 passengers for the 11 month
period, an increase of 17.9 percent. That figure is especially
noteworthy because total ridership in the 2002-2003 fiscal year was
73,392 for the daily round-trip via Holland and St. Joseph.
Ridership on the Blue Water has risen by double-digit percentages every
month since it replaced the International on the daily round-tip route
to and from Chicago and East Lansing/Port Huron. In August alone,
passengers totaled 10,045, a 22.8 percent increase from August 2003.
Eleven month ridership is 87,159, an increase of 16.2 percent versus the
same period a year ago and far above the 80,890 for entire previous
fiscal year.
"We've passed in 11 months what it took us 12 months to achieve last
year," said Don Saunders, General Superintendent of the Chicago-based
Amtrak Central Division. "The Blue Water schedule and service change has
put that route on a par with the two other strong Amtrak routes in
Michigan."
Saunders credits the new timetable implemented by the Blue Water for
much of the ridership gain. The schedule was the result of Amtrak and
MDOT working with Canadian National Railway, which owns the track used
by the train from Battle Creek to Port Huron.
"This came from Amtrak listening to what the Michigan Legislature and
MDOT told them: improve the service on the East Lansing/Port Huron route
and make it as strong as the Pere Marquette and the Wolverines," said
State Rep. Lauren Hager of Port Huron.
"The Pere Marquette and the WESTRAIN community coalition will continue
to be our model, with a coalition to improve and market the Blue Water
in the formative stages and the Greater Lansing Passenger Rail Council
serving as the base," said Ray Lang, Chicago-based Amtrak Government
Affairs Director.
Amtrak service on the Pere Marquette and Blue Water routes is provided
under contract with MDOT and is subject to an annual state
appropriation.
Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500
destinations in 46 states on a 22,000-mile route system. For more
information on the Wolverines, Pere Marquette, Blue Water or other
Amtrak services, call 800 USA.RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com.
year's 12-month totals
22 September 2004 - Amtrak News Release: ATK-04-117
Amtrak reports strong ridership on trains serving Michigan, with all
three routes exceeding last year's 12-month totals with a month to go
this fiscal year. The routes include the Wolverine trains between
Detroit/Pontiac and Chicago and the state's two Amtrak trains operated
under contract with Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT): the
Grand Rapids-Chicago Pere Marquette and the Port Huron/East
Lansing-Chicago Blue Water.
Eleven months into the 2003-2004 fiscal year (Oct. 2003-Aug. 2004), the
Wolverine passenger counts are up 12.1 percent, to total 339,012 on the
three daily round-trips on the route. That compares with 326,367 for all
of last fiscal year.
The Pere Marquette, which last month celebrated its 20th year of service
in Michigan, was also up strongly: 81,489 passengers for the 11 month
period, an increase of 17.9 percent. That figure is especially
noteworthy because total ridership in the 2002-2003 fiscal year was
73,392 for the daily round-trip via Holland and St. Joseph.
Ridership on the Blue Water has risen by double-digit percentages every
month since it replaced the International on the daily round-tip route
to and from Chicago and East Lansing/Port Huron. In August alone,
passengers totaled 10,045, a 22.8 percent increase from August 2003.
Eleven month ridership is 87,159, an increase of 16.2 percent versus the
same period a year ago and far above the 80,890 for entire previous
fiscal year.
"We've passed in 11 months what it took us 12 months to achieve last
year," said Don Saunders, General Superintendent of the Chicago-based
Amtrak Central Division. "The Blue Water schedule and service change has
put that route on a par with the two other strong Amtrak routes in
Michigan."
Saunders credits the new timetable implemented by the Blue Water for
much of the ridership gain. The schedule was the result of Amtrak and
MDOT working with Canadian National Railway, which owns the track used
by the train from Battle Creek to Port Huron.
"This came from Amtrak listening to what the Michigan Legislature and
MDOT told them: improve the service on the East Lansing/Port Huron route
and make it as strong as the Pere Marquette and the Wolverines," said
State Rep. Lauren Hager of Port Huron.
"The Pere Marquette and the WESTRAIN community coalition will continue
to be our model, with a coalition to improve and market the Blue Water
in the formative stages and the Greater Lansing Passenger Rail Council
serving as the base," said Ray Lang, Chicago-based Amtrak Government
Affairs Director.
Amtrak service on the Pere Marquette and Blue Water routes is provided
under contract with MDOT and is subject to an annual state
appropriation.
Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500
destinations in 46 states on a 22,000-mile route system. For more
information on the Wolverines, Pere Marquette, Blue Water or other
Amtrak services, call 800 USA.RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com.
