SEMCOG Commuter Rail (also known as MiTrain) is a planned regional rail link along Amtrak's Wolverine route between the cities of Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan—a total length of 38.5 miles (62.0 km)—with stops at new or existing stations in Ann Arbor, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Ypsilanti, Dearborn, and New Center.[1] The project would connect with the proposed Detroit bus rapid transit service and a potential privately funded Woodward Avenue Light Rail line.[2] SEMCOG would lease the rail cars from the Great Lakes Central Railroad.[3][4]
History [edit]
Detroit previously had commuter rail service. Until 1983, SEMTA operated Grand Trunk Western Railroad's former service between downtown Detroit, and Pontiac, Michigan. Amtrak continued Penn Central Detroit–Ann Arbor commuter service as the Michigan Executive until 1984.
In May 2009 SEMCOG commissioned a $200,000 study to determine whether commuter trains could operate along the same corridor as Amtrak intercity passenger trains and freight trains.[5] Limited service for special events in Detroit is scheduled to begin in early 2013, while regular commuter service will begin in 2014, after further track upgrades are completed.[6]
Between 12-14 November 2012, testing of the railcar fleet by an Amtrak GE Dash 8-32BWH locomotive took place between Pontiac and Jackson; while service will only initially operate between Ann Arbor and Detroit, testing the fleet on additional trackage eases the process required for future expansion to Jackson and Pontiac.[6] The locomotives have not yet been tested.
Service [edit]
The service is proposed to operate four round-trips during each weekday between Detroit and Ann Arbor and three daily round-trips on weekends.[7] An end-to-end ride would take about 50 minutes, and there would be stops at Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Dearborn and the New Center area in Detroit.[7]
Rolling stock [edit]
SEMCOG Commuter Rail's rolling stock are all ex-Metra Budd bi-level gallery-type cars as the passenger cars and the locomotives are ex-GO Transit EMD F59PH units currently owned by RB Railway Leasing.[8] SEMCOG has painted its rolling stock. Like on Metra cab cars, SEMCOG's cab cars have red and white warning stripes at the front. They have plates that say "MiTrain" on the sides.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
External links [edit]
|
|
|
| Topics |
|
|
|
| Major city |
|
|
Municipalities
over 80,000 |
|
|
Municipalities
40,000 to 80,000 |
|
|
| Cultural enclaves |
|
|
| Satellite cities |
|
|
| Counties in MSA |
|
|
| Counties in CSA |
|
|
| Regions |
|
|
| Outlying regions |
|
|
|
|
|
