Amtrak to add service from New Buffalo(MI) to Chicago

This is an article in yesterday's Hammond Times.

Brief passage:

• " Amtrak will be offering expanded train service later this year between Chicago and New Buffalo, Mich.
  The current daily service will be replaced by two existing trains, one of which already stops at Hammond/Whiting station, Chicago-Based Amtrak Spokesperson Marc Magliari said.
  The new service is coming in response to plans by a private developer to build an improved station to replace to three-sided shelter at West Washington and South Whittaker, Magliari said.
  The new station is slated for 225 North Whittaker.

Rest of the Story

Interesting; there was a notation of this change in the most recent System Timttable. Of course that was the usual "service to begin at a date to be announced'.

Of interest; there is to be a Midwest service that I actually have reason to use. I have business reasons to travel out that way each quarter.

Unlike neighboring Michigan City and its 'this is how it was fifty years ago; no reason to change it" mentality, New Buffalo is quite a growing community that evokes vitality. There is a developing entertainment area downtown, Hannah's Restaurant is a sight to behold at Xmas, and there is a newly opened lakeview condo development (city view from the 300's; lakeview from the ????).

The new station along the Michican Central will be right downtown. The existing AmShelter along the C&O is considerably to the South on MI 39.

I've lived just outside New Buffalo for years as a summer place - and I never could get why the station was on the C&O - 1 set of trains/day - while the ex-MC line has 3-4 set of trains/day, depending on Amtrak's money situation that year.

Any word if this means the end of Pere Marquette service? Or is that being routed up the MC to the C&O line at the junction north of New Buffalo? I thought the crossings were bridge and cut, not diamonds, but I could be wrong.

The Pere Marquette will continue to be routed over the C&O; but will no longer stop at New Buffalo. The Amshelter will become a pile of scrap aluminum.

If there is a physical interchange between the C&O and MC at New Buffalo, I'll be darned if I can find it. I don't think there is

I don't think there is any interchange in New Buffalo. With Terraserver-USA and an old head-end video on Amtrak there never has been any evidence of an interchange there.

There is no interchange there; the C&O crosses a bridge over the Amtrak line.

I figured so - C&O (actually we should say PM) goes over US-12. Red Arrow Highway, a adjoining highway without a number, passes over MC. Should have been a no-brainer on my part. And it's my impression MC and PM were vicious competitors, so not much need for an interchange.

On the way home from work today on I-94 (WB) I noticed an Amtrak billboard with one of the FL-9's on it advertising the time from New Buffalo to Chicago. Hope to get a picture soon.

For those of you in the area it's visible if you're heading westbound between US 421 and 49 on I-94.

Would love to see a pic...I've never seen an Amtrak billboard ad.

Sorry about the quality, but I took thisphoto traveling at about 70 mph (legal speed) on I-94 thru the windshield as I was coming up on the billboard.

The billboard isn't paid for by Amtrak, it's paid for by a real estate firm that has developed some condos in the New Bufallo harbor. Which is why they use a file photo of an FL9 rather than an actual pic of a Genny pulling the PM.

If this May 13 news item appearing at Railway Track & Structures is to be accepted, then maybe, just maybe, there is about to be movement on this long stalled project.

http://www.rtands.com/breaking_news.shtml

You will have to scroll to May 13 to review the material.

Even though my business interests from a post-retirement part time job in the area are now completed, I still hope to get out that way from time to time, as my ex-boss and his wife have certainly suggested the door is open. I think New Buffalo is a most "up and coming' community in the area and is leaving Michigan City somewhere under water. Condo development, which compliments the environment and not some "mistake be the Lake" is moving forth, there is land based casino gaming (a draw I guess), and while I'm a little too old to be personally attracted by such, the area is "party central' on weekends - and will only become more so.

'Two a day" on the Michigan Central leaving from a real station smack downtown is certainly an improvement over "one a day" on the PM using a bus stop shelter located some one mile South of town.

BTW, Hannah's Restaurant is simply "gorgeous' at Xmas when it is all lit up.

If this May 13 news item appearing at Railway Track & Structures is to be accepted, then maybe, just maybe, there is about to be movement on this long stalled project.

http://www.rtands.com/breaking_news.shtml

You will have to scroll to May 13 to review the material.

Even though my business interests from a post-retirement part time job in the area are now completed, I still hope to get out that way from time to time, as my ex-boss and his wife have certainly suggested the door is open. I think New Buffalo is a most "up and coming' community in the area and is leaving Michigan City somewhere under water. Condo development, which compliments the environment and not some "mistake be the Lake" is moving forth, there is land based casino gaming (a draw I guess), and while I'm a little too old to be personally attracted by such, the area is "party central' on weekends - and will only become more so.

'Two a day" on the Michigan Central leaving from a real station smack downtown is certainly an improvement over "one a day" on the PM using a bus stop shelter located some one mile South of town.

BTW, Hannah's Restaurant is simply "gorgeous' at Xmas when it is all lit up.