The proposals Amtrak is interested in is Chicago to Toronto via Detroit - not just a Detroit to Toronto train. And there is a huge difference between them as far as scheduling is concerned...
The last time Amtrak ran Chicago to Toronto train service in partnership with VIA, the train skipped Detroit by running via Sarnia - Port Huron. While I'm certain Detroit should provide far more potential passenger than Port Huron, will it at the time the train arrives?
Let's assume a similar time schedule as the forsaken International era 2003.
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Eastbound
Departs Chicago at 9:40 am
Arrives Port Huron at 4:50 pm
Departs Port Huron at 5:35 pm
Arrives Sarnia at 5:57 pm
Departs Sarnia at 7:25 pm
Arrives Toronto at 11:27 pm
The train loses over 2 hours at the border.
Westbound
Departs Toronto at 6:35 am
Arrives Sarnia at 11:05 am
Departs Sarnia at 11:10 am
Arrives Port Huron at 11:30 am
Departs Port Huron at 12:20 pm
Arrives Chicago at 5:55 pm.
Train loses over 1 hour at the border.
So a new train should arrive in Detroit between noon and 6 pm assuming a similar schedule. There would be no transfers available for continuing your trip without an overnight stay and catching a train the next day, or an overnight stay catching this train. The train leaves the originating station too early and arrives at the destination station too late for many transfers to be viable.
As far as Detroit area to Toronto train service, VIA already runs 3 round trip trains a day between Windsor and Toronto (morning, noon, and evening) services.
Presently, you can catch the morning Wolverine leaving Chicago at 7:20 am, arrive in Detroit at 1:40 pm, catch the evening VIA train at 19:45 pm and arrive in Toronto at 23:44 pm. You'll have over 8 hours to navigate between Detroit and Windsor and get through Customs.
Would a one seat ride save some time? Yes. How much? Around 3 hours. From the 16 plus hours it takes to ride two trains today to the 13 plus hours the International had back in 2003. You be saving 19% on elapse journey time.
Math = 13/16 x 100 = 81.25 ; 100-81.25 = 18.75
Would this train be worth it? Considering VIA provides 3 round trips a day between Windsor and Toronto and Amtrak provides 3 round trips a day between Chicago and Detroit already, my answer is no! Amtrak wouldn't be providing an additional regional train as much as it would be providing an additional long distance train.
A new long distance train service as long as Michigan will subsidize it. Yes, Amtrak is expecting states to start subsidizing its' long distance trains. First, the existing Southwest Chief, next the potential return of the Sunset Limited east, and now the potential return of the ole' International via Detroit.
Which existing long distance train will hit the chopping blocks next?