Re: Aug issue Trains Mag
Author: Gary
Date: 07-24-2007 - 05:11
Watco will be running the Michigan line (former Conrail/PC/NYC/MC) that Amtrak uses from Detroit to Chicago (actually just the part from Ypsilanti to Kalamazoo is in question). The concern is how will the track be maintained and what will it do to operating speeds over this line. There are three round trips between Detroit and Chicago, plus the Blue Water runs on a portion of it from Battle Creek to Kalamazoo. (This is all in Michigan.) The funny part is that west of Kalamazoo, Amtrak owns and maintains the line, and speeds currently are 95 mph, with speeds to reach 100+ by the end of the year. East of there, speeds may be falling from 79 to ? with Watco maintaining the line.