Battle Creek Transportation Center

Summary

Battle Creek Transportation Center is an intermodal station in Battle Creek, Michigan, used by Amtrak, Indian Trails and Greyhound Lines.[2] It is at the split between the routes of Amtrak's Blue Water and Wolverine passenger trains. The International Limited, which had started in 1982 as joint operation by Via Rail and Amtrak between Chicago and Toronto, was discontinued in 2004.[3]

Battle Creek, MI
The station in 2007, before its refurbishment in 2012.
General information
Location119 McCamly Street South
Battle Creek, Michigan
United States
Coordinates42°19′05″N 85°11′16″W / 42.31806°N 85.18778°W / 42.31806; -85.18778
Line(s)
Platforms1 side platform
Tracks2
Bus operatorsBus transport Amtrak Thruway
Bus transport Greyhound Lines
Bus transport Indian Trails
Bus transport Battle Creek Transit
Construction
ParkingYes
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeAmtrak: BTL
History
RebuiltJune 12, 2012
Passengers
FY 202224,581[1] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Kalamazoo
toward Chicago
Blue Water East Lansing
toward Port Huron
Wolverine Albion
toward Pontiac
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Kalamazoo
toward Chicago
Lake Cities Albion
toward Pontiac
International East Lansing
toward Toronto

The intermodal facility reopened in 2012 following an extensive renovation. New finishes give the depot a fresh, modern appeal, and new canopies and mechanical systems were also installed.

History edit

The current Amtrak station was built to replace two older train stations, the Battle Creek Grand Trunk Station[4][5] and the Michigan Central Railroad Depot (also known as the Penn Central Railway Station). The Michigan Central Railroad depot has been on the National Register of Historic Places since April 16, 1971, while the Grand Trunk Depot has been on the NRHP since 1980.

The Grand Trunk Depot is now the headquarters for the local branch of Community Action and the Michigan Central Railroad Depot is now a restaurant called Clara's on the River.

In September 2010, the state of Michigan got $3.6 million from the federal government to refurbish the station, including renovations to parts of the interior and exterior and bringing the station to accessible standards.[6] On August 3, 2011, a temporary station operated out of a trailer to the northwest of the station building was planned to open while renovations took place for the next nine months.[7]

The new station, which opened on June 12, 2012, features a new entrance and passenger drop-off area, secure long-term parking lot, improved exterior lighting and landscaping. The interior was completely remodeled, with office space for Amtrak and other tenants and an upgraded passenger waiting area.[8]

Eight Amtrak trains serve Battle Creek daily, with three round-trips from Chicago to Detroit/Pontiac on the Wolverine, one Blue Water round-trip from Chicago to Port Huron, and Amtrak Thruway Motorcoaches to and from Flint.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2022: State of Michigan" (PDF). Amtrak. June 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  2. ^ "MDOT puts Battle Creek Intermodal Transportation Center". michigan.gov. Michigan Department of Transportation. June 12, 2012.
  3. ^ Matt Melzer (April 23, 2004). "Final Run of the Amtrak / VIA International". TrainWeb.org. Retrieved August 4, 2015. From 1982, Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada had jointly operated the International train between Chicago and Toronto
  4. ^ Battle Creek Grand Trunk Station (Michigan Passenger Stations) Archived January 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "The Battle Creek Grand Trunk Depot (Community Action Alliance)". Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  6. ^ "Michigan wins federal grant to rehabilitate Battle Creek station". Trains Magazine. September 2, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  7. ^ "July 29, 2011: Hotline No. 717". NARP. July 29, 2011. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Battle Creek, Michigan, Amtrak Station Now Transformed and Open" (PDF). Amtrak. June 12, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2015.

External links edit

  • Battle Creek, MI – Amtrak
  • Battle Creek, MI – Station history at Great American Stations (Amtrak)
  • Battle Creek Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide – Train Web)
  • Battle Creek Station (Michigan Passenger Stations)