Category Archives: Announcements

Announcements, Meetings

August 5: In Person Membership Meeting

NOON – 2:00 PM
Crossroads Village / Huckleberry Railroad
6140 Bray Road, Flint MI 48505

Make plans now to attend the August 05 MARP membership meeting taking place at Crossroads Village in Flint. The meeting will take place from Noon to 2:00 pm, giving members an opportunity to tour the Village or visit the railroad shops prior to the start of the meeting.

There will be no admission fee to the Village for MARP members. Let the ticket office know when you arrive that you are a member of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers.

The meeting will convene promptly at Noon in the restored Clinton Town Hall located within the Village.

Following the meeting, plan to finish off your visit with a ride on the Huckleberry Railroad. It is recommended that you purchase your ticket for the 3:00 pm train departure when you enter the Village. The cost for the train is $12.

Wear comfortable shoes, a hat, and bring water to keep yourself hydrated. There is a sandwich shop within the Village if you wish to get something to eat before the meeting.

Visit GeneseeCountyParks.org/railfans-weekend for more information about Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad. If you have questions, please send us an email at marprail@yahoo.com.

Announcements, Meetings

2023 Midwest Rail Conference

The Midwest Rail Conference is back! 2023 conference with the theme “Optimizing Rail Investment” will be held in Toledo, OH on the campus of the University of Toledo. Golf Outing, small meetings, and conference reception on Monday, Aug 14th, and conference technical sessions and closing reception on Tuesday, August 15th with field visits to follow on Wednesday, August 16th.

Midwest Rail Conference 2023
University of Toledo, Students Union Building
August 15, 2023
Details at: https://rail.mtu.edu/mrc2023

Announcements, Meetings

June 3: General Membership Meeting

Make your plans now to attend our face-to-face membership meeting at the District Library in Niles.

The meeting is scheduled for the afternoon to allow members to take the train. It is advisable to make your reservation soon.

Amtrak #353 arrives in Niles at 1:00 pm.
Amtrak # 352 leaves Niles at 4:52 pm.
Amtrak #365 arrives in Niles at 11:01 am
Amtrak #364 leaves Niles at 6:32 pm

The Library is in downtown Niles and is a 15 minute walk from the train station. Uber and Lyft services are available.

If you plan to drive to the meeting, please let Chuck Merckel know if you are available to meet the train and transport folks to the Library. Contact Chuck Merckel at crmerckel@aol.com  or phone 734-330-0281

Required Disclaimer  

The Niles District Library does not endorse or sponsor this event.

Announcements, Meetings

6/9 Webinar: Michigan’s Passenger Rail Progress

Michigan has made substantial investments in passenger-rail service, for increased operational efficiency and time savings on the five current, round-trip services that Amtrak operates in the state. Continuing to make improvements to these routes remains a priority for Michigan, as well as exploring the potential for increased or expanded service. This includes improvements to rail infrastructure South of Lake, which will allow for better passenger-rail operations and reliability. Michigan plans to continue partnering with other Midwest states and Amtrak to identify projects and improvements that will lead to better passenger-train service.

Speaker: Peter Anastor, Director of the Office of Rail, Michigan Department of Transportation

Register

Announcements, FYI, News

Mechanic Street to close on Feb. 27

Mechanic Street to close on Feb. 27
for railroad bridge construction work in Jackson 

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will close Mechanic Street to resume improvements around a railroad bridge. This work is part of the Jackson Railroad Bridges Replacement Project to replace two century-old railroad bridges over Jackson and Mechanic streets. The project also includes replacement of the railroad grade crossing at Blackstone Street.  

The bridges are on a segment of railroad owned by MDOT within the federally designated high-speed rail corridor between Chicago and Detroit/Pontiac, supporting Amtrak passenger service and Norfolk Southern freight trains. The $32.9 million project is estimated to be completed in October 2023. 

County:
Jackson 

Roads/Streets:
Mechanic Street 

Closest city:
Jackson 

Start date:
7 a.m.
Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 

Completion date:
October 2023

Traffic restrictions:
Mechanic Street will close to traffic on Feb. 27 and Blackstone Street will close in early April. Jackson Street will remain open until the railroad bridges are replaced in August. Detroit and Van Buren streets will remain closed through the end of the project. Motorists should follow the posted detours. 

Safety benefit:
Replacing these bridges will ensure smooth and safe railroad operations while maintaining this vital part of the state’s economy. Closing streets during this type of work is necessary to provide the safest work area possible for crews and motorists.