Wolverine (passenger train)

Infobox rail line
name = "Wolverine"
color =

logo_width =

---

image_width =
caption = Amtrak #352 eastbound from Chicago to Pontiac on approach to Kalamazoo station.
type = Inter-city rail
system = Amtrak
status =
locale =
start = Chicago, Illinois
end = Pontiac, Michigan
stations =
routes =
ridership =
open = 1971
close =
owner = NS, CN, CR (track)
operator = Amtrak
character =
stock =
linelength = convert|304|mi|km
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge = RailGauge|ussg
el =
speed =
elevation =

infobox rdt|Amtrak Wolverine
map_state = showThe "Wolverine" is a passenger train service operated by Amtrak as part of its Michigan Services. The 304-mile (489 km) line provides three daily round-trips along the Pontiac-Detroit-Chicago route. It is served by three eastbound and three westbound trains.

Route details

The "Wolverine" operates over Norfolk Southern Railway, Amtrak, Conrail, and Canadian National Railway trackage:
*NS Chicago Line, Chicago to Porter
*Amtrak Chicago-Detroit Line, Porter to Kalamazoo
*NS Michigan Line, Kalamazoo to Dearborn
*Amtrak Chicago-Detroit Line, Dearborn to West Detroit
*CR North Yard Branch, West Detroit to Vinewood
*CN Shore Line Subdivision and Holly Subdivision, Vinewood to Pontiac

Potential Delays

Amtrak's Michigan trains share the rails with freight trains on some stretches, particularly the Norfolk Southern lines east of Chicago. This can lead to congestion and delays, despite Amtrak being given priority over freight.

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/MICHIGAN06.pdf | title = Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2006 | work = State of Michigan | accessdate = 2007-05-13] A 97-mile stretch along the route of "Wolverine" 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. Amtrak trains currently travel at top speeds of 95 mile-per-hour along this section of track. Ultimately, speed increases to 110 mile-per-hour service are planned.

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 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.

In Michigan City, the station is about a mile from the 11th Street (NICTD) street stop on the South Shore Line railroad, which in turn serves the South Bend Regional Airport.

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.amtrak.com/timetable/apr07/W22.pdf Michigan Services effective April 2007]
* [http://www.mitrain.com/ Amtrak Michigan Services Website]
* [http://www.marp.org/ Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers]