ALL ABOARD FOR DURAND UNION STATION !

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Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Member Meeting Saturday, February 21, 10:00 a.m.
Durand Union Station
200 S Railroad St
Durand, MI 48429

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With two passenger trains and thirty or more freight trains daily, Durand Union Station is THE place to catch railroad fever. And this is THE weekend to be in Durand as the community celebrates their successful efforts to save and restore the beautiful station that played such an important role in the history of Durand.

We will hear how Norma Ward parlayed a $9 donation back in 1979 into a hugely successful effort to save and restore the beautiful station that now houses the State Railroad History Museum, a Library & Archives, model railroading, and extensivedisplays of artifacts, maps, and photos from the great days of railroading on the Ann Arbor and Grand Trunk lines.

We will also hear from the Blue Water Committee that works to promote and enhance passenger travel on the Port Huron to Chicago route.

All this (!) and a meeting agenda that includes information about MARP’s recently lauched campaign to “Get Michigan On Track” with new capacity to meet the growing demands for train service in a time of financial distress for Michigan and its citizens. In addition, we hope to hear from MDOT’s Ron DeCook with news of the implications for Michigan transportation of the economic stimulus bill just passed by Congress.

Please plan to join us on Saturday, February 21. Meetings are informal and we encourage you to attend and bring others who are interested in more and better trains. We usually adjourn to a nearby eatery for more conversation and socializing.

Information about Durand Union Station and the Sunday celebration can be found at:
www.durandstation.org

If you plan to stay for the station festivities on Sunday, accomodations are available at:
Quality Inn Durand
www.qualityinn.com
8511 East Lansing Rd.
Durand – (989) 288-0638

Make your train reservations at www.amtrak.com

— SEE YOU THERE

The Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers cordially invites you to attend the first meeting of 2009. Please plan to bring a friend and add your voices to the call for more and better passenger train services in our state.

Saturday, January 10, 2009
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Capitol Area District Library
3rd Floor Conference Room
401 S. Capitol Ave.
Lansing, MI 48901–7919
517.367.6300

Tim Hoeffner, MDOT, will discuss the work of the Transportation Funding Task Force created by Public Act 221 of 2007 to “review the adequacy of surface transportation and aeronautics service provision and finance” in Michigan, review strategies for maximizing return on transportation investment, and evaluate the potential of alternative strategies to replace or supplement transportation taxes and fees. A major and consistent focus of the group has been the need to support economic activity and personal mobility.
View the final report at:
http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9623_31969-202856–,00.html
If you would like to carpool with others from your area, please send an email to:Rich Vavra-Musser
doottime@sbcglobal.net

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ANNOUNCEMENT

Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers Meeting
Saturday, November 15, 2008 – 10:00 am to Noon
Foran’s Irish Pub
612 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: 313 961-3043

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Jim Hinkins, MARP’s Regional Chair for the Metro area, has arranged for us to meet in one of Detroit’s historical landmarks and a truly unique place. Foran’s Irish Pub is located in the heart of downtown Detroit, one block from Campus Martius and Hart Plaza. The building was once the Grand Trunk Railway Station. The original early 1900’s architecture and the beauty of the Grand Trunk remain with 25 foot vaulted ceilings, brass chandeliers, exposed brick walls and hard wood floors.

Click HERE to read the proposed agenda.

Following the morning business meeting, plan to stay and enjoy Foran’s varied menu of food and drinks , featuring some of the great local products. Motor City Brewing Works beer, Avalon Bakery bread, meats and produce purchased at Eastern Market, and Faygo pop, are all on the menu.

Link to Foran’s Irish Pub:
http://www.foransirishpub.com/

If you would like to carpool with others from your area, please email Rich Vavra-Musser at
doottime@sbcglobal.net

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MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
MEMBER MEETING
October 18, 2008, 11 am
Metro Transit Center
530 N. Rose Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3638
(269) 337-8222
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What an extraordinary time for passenger trains! People are flocking to the rails in response to rising gasoline costs and environmental concerns. Congress has recently authorized funding for Amtrak at double the amounts seen in recent years while calling for a new emphasis on corridors such as the Detroit to Chicago route. There is reason for optimism.

The MARP meeting on Saturday will focus on the opportunities on the horizon and what we, as an advocacy organization, can do to realize some long standing goals. Please bring your ideas and your enthusiasm and help us plan our activities for the next few months. Your participation is more important than ever.

Click HERE for the agenda.

Our meetings are informal and open to all interested persons. Following the business meeting, we will enjoy conversation over a no-host lunch at a nearby restaurant.

If you would like to carpool with others from your area, please reply to this email and we’ll put you in touch with your Regional Chair.

See you Saturday!

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The Kalamazoo Metro Transit facility which is immediately across the tracks from the Kalamazoo Amtrak Station. Wolverine Train #351 from Detroit metro is scheduled to arrive at 10:24am, which should give us ample time to get settled and start the meeting by 11 am. If you travel on the Blue Water Train #365, arriving at 9:41am, you might like to walk 2 1/2 blocks east on Kalamazoo Avenue to the former Grand Rapids and Indiana track where you will see the Water Street Coffee Joint on the south side of the street – great place to coffee and muffins or other delectables!

Directions to Metro Transit Center: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=530+n+rose+st+kalamazoo+mi+49007&sll=42.

Saturday — September 20, 2008 — 10:00 a.m.Durand Union Station, 200 Railroad Street Durand MI 48429

Please join us as we celebrate another successful year and look forward to the next. These are exciting times for passenger trains and MARP is working hard to seize the opportunities for improving and expanding Michigan train services.

* * * FLASH ! * * *

Ross B. Capon, executive director of the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) will be the featured speaker at Durand Union Station this coming Saturday!

He has much news – some of it very good – from the Washington DC scene where many of our Congressional leaders are becoming real advocates for a strong passenger rail system throughout the nation.

The occasion for Mr. Capon’s presentation is the 35th Annual Meeting of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers. Many of you have already made your reservations and we thank you. For those of you who have been procrastinating, it’s not too late! Treasurer Dave Randall will be accepting your $20 registration fee at the door beginning at 9:45 am this Saturday, September 20.

Following Mr. Capon’s talk and discussion of MARP’s plans for expanding train service in Michigan, we will enjoy each other’s company over a delicious catered luncheon. Click for an agenda. We have also invited State Representative Lee Gonzales to talk with us about our plans to add new train capacity across Michigan and to expand high speed rail east of Kalamazoo. Rep. Gonzales is chair of the House Appropriations Transportation Sub-committee. He is also a member of the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission www.miprc.org which met recently with Congressional leaders about the future of Amtrak. Following this discussion and reports of the year’s activities, we will enjoy a catered lunch and conversation with our fellow MARP members.

A downloadable registration form is available on the website www.marp.org or on the back page of The Michigan Passenger which you recently received in the mail. Registrations must be received by September 12.

PLEASE E-MAIL marprail@yahoo.com IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO COME AND HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY SENT IN YOUR RESERVATION.

If you would like to carpool with others from you area, please contact Rich Vavra-Musser at Doottime@sbcglobal.net or phone 269-556-0576

Make your train reservations at www.amtrak.com. Contact kay.chase@wmich.edu if you are arriving on Friday evening.

Accommodations are available at the Quality Inn of Durand, 8511 East Lansing Rd, Durand, MI 48429, 989-288-0638 www.choicehotels.com

To learn more about Durand Union Station, visit www.durandstation.org

On Saturday, September 20, the Steam Railroading Institute in nearby Owosso MI is celebrating “Hobo Days” with many railroad related activities and a chance to have your picture taken on the Pere Marquette #1225 Steam Locomotive that was the model for the steam engine in the Christmas classic movie The Polar Express. Visit www.mstrp.com

For other events in the area, visit www.shiawassee.org