The Blue Water (previously the Blue Water Limited ) is a higher-speed passenger train service operated by Amtrak as part of its Michigan Services . The 319-mile (513 km) route runs from Chicago , Illinois , to Port Huron in Michigan's Blue Water Area , for which the train is named. Major stops are in Kalamazoo , Battle Creek , East Lansing , and Flint .
Blue Water The westbound, double-ended Blue Water approaching Chicago in 2020
Service type Inter-city rail , higher-speed rail Predecessor International First service April 25, 2004 Current operator(s) Amtrak Annual ridership 168,848 (FY23) 16.4%[a] [1] Termini Chicago , IllinoisPort Huron , MichiganStops 11 Distance travelled 319 miles (513 km) Average journey time 6 hours, 25 minutes[2] (Port Huron to Chicago) 6 hours, 31 minutes[2] (Chicago to Port Huron) Service frequency Daily Train number(s) 364 (eastbound) 365 (westbound) Track gauge 4 ft 8+ 1 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm ) standard gauge Operating speed 49 mph (79 km/h) () 110 mph (180 km/h) ( ) Track owner(s) CN , Amtrak , MDOT , NS
Show interactive map.mw-parser-output .RMbox{box-shadow:0 2px 2px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.14),0 1px 5px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.12),0 3px 1px -2px rgba(0,0,0,.2)}.mw-parser-output .RMinline{float:none;width:100%;margin:0;border:none}.mw-parser-output table.routemap{padding:0;border:0;border-collapse:collapse;background:transparent;white-space:nowrap;line-height:1.2;margin:auto}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMcollapse{margin:0;border-collapse:collapse;vertical-align:middle}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMreplace{margin:0;border-collapse:collapse;vertical-align:middle;position:absolute;bottom:0}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMsi{display:inline;font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMir{padding:0!important}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMl1{padding:0 3px!important;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMr1{padding:0 3px!important;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMl{padding:0!important;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMr{padding:0!important;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMl4{padding:0 3px 0 0!important;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMr4{padding:0 0 0 3px!important;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.routemap>tbody>tr{line-height:1}.mw-parser-output table.routemap>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output table.RMcollapse>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output table.RMreplace>tbody>tr>td{padding:0;width:auto;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .RMir>div{display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;padding:0;height:20px;min-height:20px}.mw-parser-output .RMir img{height:initial!important;max-width:initial!important}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMov{position:relative}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMov .RMic,.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMov .RMtx{position:absolute;left:0;top:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMtx{line-height:20px;height:20px;min-height:20px;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMsp{height:20px;min-height:20px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMtx>abbr,.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMtx>div{line-height:.975;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMts{font-size:90%;transform:scaleX(.89)}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMf_{height:5px;min-height:5px;width:20px;min-width:20px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMfm{height:100%;min-height:100%;width:4px;min-width:4px;margin:0 auto}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMo{width:2.5px;min-width:2.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMc{width:5px;min-width:5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMoc{width:7.5px;min-width:7.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMd{width:10px;min-width:10px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMod{width:12.5px;min-width:12.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMcd{width:15px;min-width:15px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMocd{width:17.5px;min-width:17.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_{width:20px;min-width:20px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_o{width:22.5px;min-width:22.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_c{width:25px;min-width:25px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_oc{width:27.5px;min-width:27.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_d{width:30px;min-width:30px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_od{width:32.5px;min-width:32.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_cd{width:35px;min-width:35px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_ocd{width:37.5px;min-width:37.5px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMb{width:40px;min-width:40px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMcb{width:45px;min-width:45px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMdb{width:50px;min-width:50px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMcdb{width:55px;min-width:55px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_b{width:60px;min-width:60px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_cb{width:65px;min-width:65px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_db{width:70px;min-width:70px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_cdb{width:75px;min-width:75px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMs{width:80px;min-width:80px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMds{width:90px;min-width:90px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_s{width:100px;min-width:100px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_ds{width:110px;min-width:110px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMbs{width:120px;min-width:120px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMdbs{width:130px;min-width:130px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_bs{width:140px;min-width:140px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_dbs{width:150px;min-width:150px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMw{width:160px;min-width:160px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_w{width:180px;min-width:180px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMbw{width:200px;min-width:200px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_bw{width:220px;min-width:220px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMsw{width:240px;min-width:240px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_sw{width:260px;min-width:260px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RMbsw{width:280px;min-width:280px}.mw-parser-output .RMir .RM_bsw{width:300px;min-width:300px}.mw-parser-output .RMsplit{font-weight:inherit;color:inherit;background:transparent;margin-top:-3px;margin-bottom:-3px;width:initial!important;box-sizing:initial;display:inline-table;vertical-align:middle}.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMl>.RMsplit,.mw-parser-output table.routemap .RMr>.RMsplit{font-size:90%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .RMbox{background:inherit!important;color:white}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .RMbox img{filter:contrast(0.4)}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets a abbr{color:white!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .RMbox th{background:inherit!important;color:inherit!important;border-bottom:solid 1px #be2d2c}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .RMbox small{color:white}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .RMbox img{filter:contrast(0.4)}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets a abbr{color:white!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .RMbox{background:inherit!important;color:white}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .RMbox th{background:inherit!important;color:inherit!important;border-bottom:solid 1px #be2d2c}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .RMbox small{color:white}}
Legend
Show route diagram map
Amtrak began running the Blue Water in 1974 over the Grand Trunk Western Railroad . In 1982 the train was extended from Port Huron to Toronto , Canada , and renamed the International Limited . Service was cut back to the original route in 2004 with the Blue Water name restored.[3]
History
edit
The Blue Water Limited with a Turboliner trainset at Durand in 1979
The International in 1989
The Lansing area, home of the Michigan state capitol and Michigan State University , was left out of Amtrak 's original system. Beginning in 1973, Amtrak and the state discussed restoring service over the Grand Trunk Western Railway within the state, although the new route would join Amtrak's other Michigan trains on the Penn Central west of Battle Creek, Michigan , eschewing the Grand Trunk's traditional route to Chicago. New stations were built in Port Huron and East Lansing, and the state spent $1 million on track rehabilitation (equivalent to $6.18 million in 2023 adjusted for inflation). Service began September 13, 1974, between Chicago and Port Huron, with the intention of eventually restoring the Port Huron–Toronto leg.[4] : 204–204 [5] [6]
Amtrak renamed the train the Blue Water Limited on October 26, 1975, and re-equipped it with French-built Turboliner trainsets on May 20, 1976. The new Turboliners were capable of, but never reached, 125 mph (201 km/h) and ran with fixed five-car consists with an overall capacity of 292 passengers. The Turboliners were withdrawn on October 25, 1981, replaced by conventional locomotives pulling Amfleet coaches.[4] : 204, 208
The long-discussed extension to Toronto finally occurred on October 31, 1982. The extended service received the name International Limited , the name of an old Canadian National /Grand Trunk Chicago–Port Huron–Montreal train (1900–1907, 1919–1971). Amtrak and Via Rail , the independent Canadian Crown corporation rail company, jointly operated the International Limited (later just International ) until April 25, 2004, when cross-border service was discontinued. Massive border delays post-September 11 led to falling ridership; Amtrak and Michigan agreed to truncate service at Port Huron and bring back the old Blue Water .[4] : 207 On the Canadian side service ends at Sarnia as part of the Via Rail's Corridor route.
With a more favorable intrastate schedule and fewer delays, the Blue Water 's ridership showed immediate improvements, carrying 94,378 passengers in fiscal year 2004 (compared to 80,890 in FY 2003).[4] : 208 Blue Water ridership in FY 2011 totaled 187,065, an increase of 18.0 percent from FY 2010's total of 157,709, and the highest total ever recorded by the train.[7] During FY 2011, the train had a total revenue of $5.8 million, a 22.3 percent increase from FY 2010's total of $4.7 million.[7]
The Detroit–Chicago corridor has been designated by the Federal Railroad Administration as a high-speed rail corridor.[8] A 97-mile (156 km) 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 .[8] Amtrak began speed increases along this stretch in January 2002. Ultimately, speed increased to 110 mph (180 km/h).[8] [9]
Route details
edit
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
MDOT Michigan Line , Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Battle Creek, Michigan [10]
CN/GTW Flint Subdivision , Battle Creek, Michigan, to Port Huron, Michigan
Geographic route map
Station stops
edit
State
Town/City
Station
Connections
Illinois
Chicago
Chicago
Amtrak (long-distance): California Zephyr , Capitol Limited , Cardinal , City of New Orleans , Empire Builder , Lake Shore Limited , Southwest Chief , Texas Eagle Amtrak (intercity): Hiawatha Service , Illini and Saluki , Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg , Lincoln Service , Pere Marquette , Wolverine Metra : ■ BNSF , ■ Milwaukee District North , ■ Milwaukee District West , ■ North Central Service , ■ Heritage Corridor , ■ SouthWest Service Chicago "L" : Blue (at Clinton ) , Brown Orange Pink Purple (at Quincy ) CTA Bus , Pace Bus Megabus
Michigan
New Buffalo
New Buffalo
Amtrak : Wolverine Berrien Bus
Niles
Niles
Amtrak : Wolverine Niles Dial-A-Ride (DART)
Dowagiac
Dowagiac
Amtrak : Wolverine Dowagiac Dial-A-Ride (DART)
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo
Amtrak : Wolverine Metro Transit Intercity bus: Greyhound , Indian Trails
Battle Creek
Battle Creek
Amtrak : Wolverine , Amtrak Thruway Battle Creek Transit Greyhound
East Lansing
East Lansing
Amtrak : Amtrak Thruway Capital Area Transportation Authority Intercity bus: Greyhound , Indian Trails
Durand
Durand
Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency
Flint
Flint
Amtrak : Amtrak Thruway MTA Bus Intercity bus: Greyhound , Indian Trails
Lapeer
Lapeer
Greater Lapeer Transportation Authority (GLTA)
Port Huron
Port Huron
Blue Water Area Transit
Consist
edit
A typical Amtrak Blue Water consists of:[11]
References
edit
^ "Amtrak Fiscal Year 2023 Ridership" (PDF) . Amtrak. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ a b "Amtrak Timetable Results". www.amtrak.com . Retrieved December 20, 2021 .
^ "Michigan's Railroad History 1825 - 2014" (PDF) . Michigan Department of Transportation . October 13, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2024 .
^ a b c d Sanders, Craig (2006). Amtrak in the Heartland . Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press . ISBN 978-0-253-34705-3 .
^ Port Huron-Chicago Inaugural September 13 Amtrak News September 1, 1974, page 4
^ Michigan's Blue Water Chicago-Port Huron Inaugural Sep 13 Amtrak News October 1, 1974, pages 4/5
^ a b "Amtrak reports record Michigan ridership". The Grand Rapids Press . October 14, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2011 .
^ a b c "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2005" (PDF) . Amtrak. Retrieved October 30, 2006 .
^ "Michigan: Amtrak taking service to new speeds". WNDU-TV. Archived from the original on November 12, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2006 .
^ Kalamazoo Gazette file photo (October 11, 2011). "Details emerging on MDOT purchase of train track from Kalamazoo to Dearborn". MLive . Booth Newspapers . Retrieved January 26, 2014 .
^ "Blue Water". TrainWeb. Retrieved October 22, 2010 .
Notes
edit
^ Amtrak's Fiscal Year (FY) runs from October 1 of the prior year to September 30 of the named year.
External links
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blue Water (train) .
Template:Attached KML/Blue Water (train)
KML is from Wikidata
Michigan Services – Amtrak
Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
1978 Blue Water Limited Route Guide