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Press Releases

Proposed Amtrak cuts could hurt Michigan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: John DeLora, Executive Director or Mike Whims, Chairman
PHONE: (313) 575-6608 or (248) 892-4545  

The Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP) is deeply concerned about President George Bush’s Fiscal 2006 budget proposal. His administration proposes eliminating all funding for Amtrak, which would be detrimental to all Amtrak Michigan passenger rail services.

Amtrak currently serves three corridors in Michigan, which include Chicago to Detroit (Wolverine Services), Chicago to Port Huron (the Blue Water), and Chicago to Grand Rapids (the Pere Marquette), with a total of ten daily trains. The State of Michigan currently funds the operation of the Blue Water and the Pere Marquette, while Amtrak funds the Wolverine Service.

Should Congress approve zero funding for Amtrak, and then it will be up to each state to foot the bill for all operating costs. Michigan, like many other states, is suffering from budget deficits and cannot afford to make up these costs.

John DeLora, MARP Executive Director, feels these proposed cuts make no sense when ridership is increasing on all Michigan Amtrak trains.

“Over 600,000 Michigan passengers use Amtrak per year.” DeLora states. “It also serves several Michigan cities which do not have air or bus services.”

The loss of Amtrak trains could hit hard on college students traveling from cities like Ann Arbor, East Lansing, or Kalamazoo, business travelers from the Detroit area, and even weekend travelers going to Chicago from Grand Rapids. The train provides the best access to downtown Chicago compared to air. Also, many travelers like to avoid the heavy traffic on the highways by riding the train.

Congestion is getting worse on many roads and airports like Chicago’s O’Hare. Expanding Amtrak services and not eliminating it should be the goal of the Bush Administration to improve overall mobility of the country.

The Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers is a non-profit corporation established in 1973 to improve passenger train service, travel conditions for passengers, and to work for the preservation of historic rail stations.

For further information please contact John DeLora at (313) 575-6608 or Mike Whims (248) 892-4545 or visit MARP’s website at http://www.marp.org.

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Photo Gallery

Winter wonderland

Amtrak’s Pere Marquette (P371) passes along the Lake Michigan shore line at St. Joseph, Mich. under foggy and “Winter Wonderland” conditions on Feb. 6, 2005 while en-route to Chicago. (Photo by J.R. Valderas)

Press Releases

HELP SAY “YES” FOR MICHIGAN TRAINS !

PRESIDENT SAYS “NO” TO PASSENGER RAIL

Passenger rail service in the United States is seriously threatened! President Bush has proposed to CUT ALL FUNDING to Amtrak beginning October 1, 2005. The national passenger rail system gives Americans a necessary travel choice to highways and airplanes, and is the ONLY intercity service to many communities without air or intercity bus connections.

Nationwide rail travel is at record levels this year, increasing 4.3% over last year. Since September 11, 2001, rail travel is gaining national popularity and purpose. Over 25 million passengers rode Amtrak last year.

Michigan rail ridership has been steadily increasing at double-digit percentages over the past two years. (See chart) The State of Michigan supports passenger rail service with funding for the Pere Marquette and Blue Water trains, but these trains and the Pontiac-Chicago Wolverine service will end unless Congress acts to save and expand the federal support of Amtrak.

Contact your elected officials and let them know that you support continued funding of national passenger rail. Include a personal story about why Amtrak is important to you, if possible. See contact information below.

Call, fax or email your elected officials (postal letters are subject to long security delays). Include the President, Congressional representatives, State leaders and your local mayor and/ or councilpersons in your correspondence.

The President: ph. (202) 456-1111, fax (202) 456-2461, email president@whitehouse.gov
U.S. Senate/House switchboard: (202) 224-3121 or go to www.senate.gov, www.house.gov
The Governor: (517) 373-3400
Michigan Senate switchboard: (517) 373-2400, or go to www.senate.michigan.gov
Michigan House switchboard: (517) 373-0135, or go to house.michigan.gov

Newsletter

Winter 2005 MARP member newsletter

Winter 2005 stories included:

  • Michigan ridership soars
  • Engine 1225 stars in “Polar Express”
  • MARP sets 2005 goals
  • Greyhound-Amtrak connection in Milwaukee discussed
  • Getting the message out–MARP members explain passenger rail service to senior groups
  • MARP website running again
  • MARP conflict of interest policy strengthened
  • Lake Central Railway sets 2005 tour schedule
  • Bangor receives grants for station

Published quarterly, The Michigan Passenger serves as the official publication of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers. Copies of the publication can be found at every Amtrak station in the state of Michigan as well as locations having interest in passenger rail such as local libraries, hobby stores and city halls. To receive this publication at your home or business, you must become a member of MARP. Join by filling out the application in the About MARP section of this website.

Photo Gallery

North Pole express

Chris Van Allsburg’s Caldecott children’s book as well as the Warner Brothers’ movie “The Polar Express” has introduced a new generation to the excitement of travel by rail. The Pere Marquette 1225 locomotive, pictured on an excursion trip near the Saginaw County Fairgrounds on Dec. 11, 2004, served as the artist’s model for the animated movie. The locomotive is owned by the Owosso based Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation (MSTRP), which consulted on the movie. (Photo Courtesy of J.R. Valderas)