(The following story by Nicole Gerring appeared on the Times Herald website on September 8.)
PORT HURON, Mich. — More people are leaving their cars behind and jumping aboard Amtrak trains for destinations throughout Michigan and the west.
Riders said they are traveling by train for financial reasons, environmental concerns or simply a desire to experience train travel.
Ridership increased from 101,161 to 105,605 riders, or 4.4%, along the Blue Water line between October and July compared to the same period the previous year, said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari. The line connects Port Huron to Chicago.
There are three Amtrak lines in Michigan – the Blue Water, Wolverine and Pere Marquette. Statewide Amtrak ridership increased 8.6%, from 111,630 people to 123,823 people, between fiscal years 2005 and 2006.
Amtrak riders have watched for years as the company made deep cuts in routes because of budget constraints and dwindling ridership.
Now, the company and riders have to consider the impact a proposed change in the control of rail lines between Ypsilanti and Battle Creek will have on train service statewide.
More travelers
The ridership increase between October and July is the second time in recent history more people have taken the Blue Water line.
The line saw about 12,000 more riders, a nearly 11% increase, between Oct. 1, 2005 and Sept. 30, 2006 – the greatest increase of all Michigan lines for that period. One obvious reason for the rise is the price of gasoline.
“Certainly, the higher price of traveling by car leads people to other alternatives,” Magliari said.
The statewide average for a gallon of gasoline is almost $1 more this week – at $3.17 per gallon – than it was at the same time last year, according to Michigangasprices.com.
From Port Huron, a roundtrip ticket to Chicago can cost between $48 and $72 per person, or more if tickets are bought at the last minute.
The 680-mile drive to Chicago and back, which requires about 27 gallons of gas in a car averaging 25 miles per gallon, would cost about $86 at $3.17 a gallon.
Ridership also may have increased in recent years because of a schedule change that better accommodates state travelers, Magliari said.
Magliari said ridership has increased on the Blue Water line since the Port Huron-to-Sarnia leg was dropped in 2003. The train previously took passengers through the rail tunnel under the St. Clair River to Sarnia before making its way to Toronto.
The schedule change was met with opposition, but Magliari said travelers have warmed to the switch.
The current route allows travelers to leave from the east of the state in the early morning and arrive in Chicago by late morning or early afternoon.
“The schedule now is designed for Michiganders, and they’ve responded,” he said.
Although the company is happy to chart the increases, Magliari said the company eventually will have to add routes or increase the capacity of its trains to meet rising demand. As the largest financial contributor, the state of Michigan largely makes decisions about changes to the train service, he said.
The experience
Some travelers said they take the train because of cost and convenience, while others ride for the experience.
Heather and Patrick Grybowski and their daughter, Amanda, left the Port Huron Amtrak station early Friday morning for Chicago.
The Port Huron family will attend the wedding of Patrick’s cousin on Saturday and return home on Sunday.
“I thought it would be better than driving,” Patrick said. “You don’t have to worry about the hassles of all the road rage people. You can sit back and enjoy the ride.”
Patrick said the family bought their tickets early and paid less than they would have paid to fill up the tank of their car for a trip to the Windy City. The trip takes about seven hours on the train.
The family said they weren’t worried about not having a car when they reached their destination.
“Everything’s within walking distance from the hotel,” Patrick said.
Joe and Mary Lou Linert of Port Huron took their grandson, Joey Linert, 8, to Lansing on the train because they thought it would be an educational way to visit the capitol.
The couple planned to take Joey on a tour of the state capitol.
“It’s a good deal,” said Mary Lou, 62. The whole family paid $38 roundtrip for the journey, which is only a bit more expensive than the $30 in gas they’d spend on a drive.
A growing environmental consciousness is prompting other travelers to share a ride with others on the train.
Janice Littlefield, 57, of Port Huron took the train this weekend to Chicago for a water-quality conference.
She took the train, “because it made sense, with the price of gas. It’s going to take me right downtown, where I need to be,” she said. “I didn’t realize how inexpensive it is.”
She said she feels better taking the train instead of driving.
“We all need to start thinking about reducing our carbon footprint,” she said, referring to the impact each person has on the environment.
Pending sale
A proposal to transfer ownership and maintenance of the rail line between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo could affect Port Huron area Amtrak travelers.
Norfolk Southern Corp. is working on a deal to transfer maintenance responsibilities of the Battle Creek to Kalamazoo portion of the Blue Water line to Michigan Central Railway, a new company formed by Norfolk Southern and Watco Cos. Inc.
The company would assume responsibility of the Ypsilanti to Battle Creek, Jackson to Lansing and Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids to Elkhart, Ind., tracks.
Ed McKechnie, chief commercial officer of Watco, said if the proposal is approved by the federal Surface Transportation Board, the company will invest $20 million over three years in Michigan operations.
“We’re proposing to do more investment in the first three years than Norfolk Southern has done in the last 10 years. The benefits are very immediate for freight rail and also for passenger service.”
He said Michigan Central plans to upgrade the signal system and invest in the tie and surface conditions of the railroad, which will eliminate problems on the track.
The deadline to submit comments to the Surface Transportation Board is Sept. 18. McKechnie said the company hopes the board rules by the end of October so the company can make the business transfers and begin operating in the area by the first of March.
“The primary issue is: Can we do what we say we’re going to do, and is it in the transportation interest of the United States, and are any customers adversely impacted? We will show very strongly that service is improved, and that customers are benefited.”
The rail line between Battle Creek and Port Huron is owned by Canadian National Railway.
Jim Kvedaras, spokesman for CN, said his company has no plans to change ownership of the Battle Creek to Port Huron leg.
“At this time, we’re not aware of any changes to the service affecting Amtrak on that portion,” he said.