Category Archives: Announcements

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Announcements, FYI

ACTION ALERT: State Senate bill may drastically reduce intercity bus service

The intercity motorcoach or bus network that Indian Trails has so carefully put together in Northern Michigan, which has been endorsed by MARP, is in jeopardy and we need you to contact your state senators to educate them about the negative impact of SB1164; it will dry up funding for state supported inter-city bus routes.

In the event you are not up to speed, on Wed. 5/12/10, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed SB 1164 to the full Senate, which would essentially eliminate all of our funding for intercity services for everything north of Grand Rapids,  Lansing,  Bay City and all of the Upper Peninsula for FY 2011.   The Senate is scheduled to vote this week, the week of 5/17/10.

It was thought that this would only represent a 10% cut in the Intercity Services budget, but they don’t realize that this fund is the match for federal grants.  The $725,000 proposed cut to the budget is actually more than 100% of the state funding for some intercity busing.  We would lose our federal match, so there would be no intercity bus services for 2/3 of the state.

Below you will find a link  that will help you find a link to your senator. We encourage you to write a letter to your senator (in your own words) but you may use the letter below for guidance.
http://senate.michigan.gov/

Dear Senator _______,

Over the last two years, I have become very familiar with the motor coach or bus service Indian Trails provides to all of Northern Michigan .  Utilizing clean, comfortable coaches, they serve countless communities in our state, with a very economical, logical route system.  Hubs exist in Escanaba and St. Ignace, where passengers can make convenient connections between the various routes. Just last year, a new Transportation Center was opened in St. Ignace, through the efforts of Indian Trails, MDOT and the St. Ignace business community.  Late last year, at no additional expense, Indian Trails expanded service to Sault Ste. Marie, which had had no motor coach service for years.

SB 1164 is a penny wise, pound foolish proposition, which jeopardizes efforts to improve tourism and economic recovery in our state.  While on the surface it appears it is just a 10 percent reduction in the budget, in reality that 10 percent is used to secure federal transportation dollars for the remaining 90 percent of the budget. It would effectively eliminate a vital transportation service to the northern 2/3 of the state.

I urge you to vote NO on SB 1164.

Thank you for your consideration.  Best wishes.
 

Regards,

__________

Announcements, FYI, News, Press Releases

National Train Day 2010

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GET THE INSIDE TRACK at NATIONAL TRAIN DAY

National Train Day 2010On Saturday, May 8th, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP) and fellow railroad organizations come together to celebrate the third annual National Train Day with family-friendly events across the state of Michigan.     

The celebration commemorates the 141st anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad’s inception by bringing to life the rich narrative of how trains have transformed America.     

Amtrak is using National Train Day to help raise awareness of the vital role rail plays in our nation’s transportation system. National Train Day spokesman is actor and avid train fan Taye Diggs, star of Private Practice.     

Amtrak is sponsoring major events in Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, and Washington, D.C.. MARP and fellow railroad organizations have organized celebrations to take place in the following communities across Michigan (please see the below list for locations, times and festivities of each celebration). All events are on Saturday, May 8th at the respective cities’ Amtrak stations unless otherwise noted.   

City: Ann Arbor, Michigan 

Location: Amtrak Station – 325 Depot Street    

Time: 7:00am – 9:00am     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Coffee and donuts will be available to both passengers and guests, and a proclamation will be read by the Mayor of Ann Arbor.    

City: Bangor, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 541 Railroad Street (former Pere Marquette station)     

Time: 8:00am – 4:00pm     

Sponsors: Beacon Specialized Living Services, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Holland Modular Railroad Club     

Description: Join us at the historic Pere Marquette (Amtrak) station as we celebrate National Train Day. The Mayor of Bangor will read a proclamation following the arrival of Amtrak train 371, the Pere Marquette. Enjoy live music, refreshments, raffles, an operating HO scale model train layout from the Holland Modular Railroad Club and so much more.   

City: Dearborn, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 16121 Michigan Avenue     

Time: 6:30am – 11:30am     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Coffee and donuts will be provided, and a proclamation will be read by the Mayor of Dearborn.     

City: Detroit, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 11 West Baltimore Avenue     

Time: 6:48am – 11:23am     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: National Train Day celebration and proclamation. Coffee and cake will be available to both passengers and guests throughout the morning. A proclamation will be presented to the Mayor just before noon.   

City: Dowagiac, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 200 Depot Dr. (historic Michigan Central station)     

Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Stop by our open house at the depot to enjoy music from the local college and see displays by a model railroad club. Refreshments will be served.     

 City: Durand, Michigan ** Takes place May 15, 2010 **     

Location: Durand Union Station – 200 Railroad Street     

Time: 9:00am – 7:00pm     

Description: Celebrate 35 years of our railroad heritage at Railroad Days, May 14-16. The historical depot will be open with model train displays, Operation Lifesaver will have educational information for all, tours of the caboose are available, and there will be a book opening for Imre Questlar.     

City: East Lansing, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 1240 South Harrison Road     

Time: 8:00am – 10:00am     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Join us for coffee and donuts and a reading of the National Train Day proclamation. 

City: Flint, Michigan 

Location: Amtrak Station – 1407 South Dort Highway     

Time: 6:30am – 1:00pm     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Celebrate National Train Day with us. Railroad displays, operating model railroads, Operation Lifesaver information, and refreshments will be available.     

City: Holland, Michigan  
Location: Padnos Transportation Center – 171 Lincoln Avenue
Time:  7:30am – 8:30am 
Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Description:  Come greet the morning Pere Marquette train and enjoy refreshments and a proclamation read by the Mayor of Holland. Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers 7:30am – 8:30am Padnos Transportation Center – 171 Lincoln Avenue   

 

City: Jackson, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 501 E. Michigan Avenue (historic Michigan Central station)     

Time: 8:30am – 2:00pm     

Sponsors: Central Michigan Model Railroad Club, Amtrak, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Join us as we celebrate National Train Day at “The Oldest Continuous Operational Railroad Designed and Built Passenger Train Station in the United States,” the historic Michigan Central Railroad (Amtrak) station in Jackson, Michigan. Don’t miss out on your chance to see trains, model trains, explore interactive and educational exhibits, trip planning and so much more.     

 City: Kalamazoo, Michigan    

Location(s): 485 N. Burdick Street (Kalamazoo Transportation Center) and 9336 N. Riverview Dr. (Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society facility)     

Time(s): 9:00am – 11:30am (Transportation Center), 12:00pm – 4:00pm (Model Railroad facility)     

Sponsors: Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Amtrak, Vicksburg Depot Museum, CK&S Railfan Festival     

Description: Join us as we celebrate National Train Day in the morning (9:00-11:30am) at the Kalamazoo Transportation Center (Amtrak station). Greet the arrival of Amtrak Wolverine trains 350 and 351 and Blue Water train 365 while exploring interactive and educational exhibits from the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society, Vicksburg Depot Museum and Delton’s CK&S Railfan Festival. From the station, the celebration continues at the Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society’s facility (12:00-4:00pm) as part of the groups Annual Open House. Don’t miss out on seeing model trains, a full size caboose and so much more.     

City: Niles, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 598 Dey Street (historic Michigan Central station)     

Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Amtrak, Four Flags Garden Club, Niles DDA Main Street, Cass County Model Railroad Club     

Description: Join us at the historic 1892 Michigan Central Railroad station as we celebrate National Train Day. Greet the arrival of Amtrak train 365, the Blue Water, and Wolverine trains 350, 351 and 352 while exploring interactive and educational exhibits from the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Four Flags Garden Club, Niles DDA Main Street, and the Cass County Model Railroad Club.     

City: St. Joseph, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 410 1/2 Vine Street (former Pere Marquette station)     

Time: 9:00 – 11:00am     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Come greet the morning Pere Marquette train and enjoy refreshments and a proclamation ready by the Mayor of St. Joseph.   

(not sponsored by MARP)
City: Rochester, Michigan     

 Other locations in Michigan     

Location: Oakland University (Meadow Brook Hall) – 2200 N. Squirrel Road     

Time: 11:30am – 2:30pm     

Description: On National Train Day, come to the Lunch & Learn at Meadow Brook Hall for a lecture about the Glancy Trains Collection at the Detroit Historical Museum. Lecture will feature John Lohmeier, President Meadow Brook Hall Squires, Meredith Long, Museum Services Coordinator of Meadow Brook Hall and Bob Cosgrove, Adjunct Curator of Glancy Trains at the Detroit Historical Museum. Complimentary tour of Meadow Brook Hall follows the lecture.     

Want to volunteer at any of the above events?     

Contact your MARP Editor. Your help is appreciated! MARP encourages its members to spread the word of the importance of passenger trains at the celebrations.

Announcements, FYI, News

35th Annual Durand Railroad Days Excursions of May 15th -16th Canceled

From a Steam Railroading Institute Press Release:

A very difficult decision has been made by Durand Union Station, Great Lakes Central, and the Steam Railroading Institute to cancel the upcoming excursions for the 35th Annual Durand Railroad Days, to be held May 15th and 16th. After initial approval and much discussion with Canadian National about being able to board at the Durand Union Station as a Great Lakes Central excursion, it was determined that the liability insurance policy required by CN to allow the excursion to carry passengers was more than the parties felt we could justifiably afford.

This would have been the first train excursions for Railroad Days in nearly a decade, and all involved are disappointed, but in the end we felt this was our only remaining course of action.

It should be noted that every possible option was looked upon by the parties involved for providing an alternative that would allow the excursions to continue. Discussions were held about the potential of running the trips from Pitt Junction  and continuing south as planned to Cohoctah. The distance from the Durand Railroad Days event (over one mile), not to mention the logistics and costs of the busing, quickly eliminated this as an option. Brief discussions were also held with RailAmerica as well about boarding northeast of the diamond, however similar issues arose and the parties involved decided it was best to cancel the excursions.

While DUSI, SRI, and GLC regret the cancellation, we hope to have some exciting announcements soon that may soften the blow of our inability to run this particular excursion. Please stop by our table at the Durand Union Station during Durand Railroad Days.

For further info on the event, please check out Durand Railroad Days website at http://www.durandrailroaddays.com, or the Durand Union Station website at http://durandstation.org/

Durand Railroad Days
Durand, Michigan
May 14, 15 & 16

Announcements, FYI

MARP is now on Facebook and Twitter

The Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP) has joined the social network websites Facebook and Twitter. Social network websites have been  helpful to organizations in getting their messages out, strengthening networks and building memberships to their cause.

A major benefit for MARP members and the public who become “a fan” of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers Fan Page or decide to follow”tweets” on Twitter is that they will be automatically notified of updates such as breaking news on the MARP website at www.marp.org.

To access the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers’ Fan Page on Facebook, click on Facebook or the Facebook icon at the upper right corner of any web page on www.marp.org. The direct link is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michigan-Association-of-Railroad-Passengers/106717032702437?ref=nf. You may have to join Facebook to use all of the functions such as posting to the web page wall and sharing pictures. You may recognize some names and make new friends while on the web page or find links to other Fan Pages or websites of interest. Updates to the MARP Fan Page and www.marp.org will show up anytime you log onto Facebook, depending how you have your settings.

To acces the MARP Twitter page, click on Twitter or the Twitter icon on the upper right corner of any web page on www.marp.org. The direct link is: http://twitter.com/michrailpass. (Tweets on Twitter are limited to 140 characters. Twitter is an excellent way to keep up with the latest news and can even be accessed on many cell phones depending on the type of cell phone account you have.

Since January, there has been a third way to follow updates on www.marp.org called a RSS news feed. RSS stands for Rich Site Summary and is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. To access the MARP’s RSS feed, click on RSS Feed or the RSS feed icon on the upper right corner of any web page on www.marp.org. The direct link is: http://www.marp.org/?feed=rss. At the top of the RSS Feed page, there are instructions on how to use the feed and how to configure it. Many browsers, such as Internet Explorer, allow you to automatically configure the RSS feed function of the browser by clicking the  Subscribe to this feed link at the top of the page.

By the way, the “Comments”  link at the upper right corner of any page at www.marp.org functions much the same way an RSS feed. Instead of providing a feed of updates to the website, it provides a feed of recent comments to content on the website.

Announcements, FYI, News

Save 20% on Amtrak Travel in Michigan

Enjoy a Ride between the Great Lakes

See the great state of Michigan as it’s meant to be seen on the Blue Water, Pere Marquette and Wolverine and save 20% through April 29, 2010.

Getting there is half the fun — and on the train your time is your own. Catch up with friends or a good book. Or tune out and enjoy the view. There’s a lot to see in Michigan, such as more than twenty historically preserved cities like Lapeer, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. Or visit Detroit, the birthplace of Motown. Plus, the lively university town of Ann Arbor is a center for performing arts.

Get ready to see everything between the Lakes, and save 20% on a ticket when you click on the “Book It Now” button.

Terms and Conditions
  • Valid for 20% off the regular (full) adult rail fare.
  • Valid for sale January 1, 2009 – April 29, 2010.
  • Valid for travel January 2 – April 30, 2010.
  • Blackout dates:
     – January 3 – 4, 2010
     – February 12 and 15, 2010
     – April 2 and 4 – 5, 2010
  • Offer is valid for travel on the Blue Water, Pere Marquette and Wolverine only.
  • Reservations must be made at least three days prior to travel date.
  • Up to two children ages 2-15 may accompany each adult at half the regular (full) adult rail fare.
  • Seating is limited, seats may not be available on all trains at all times.
  • Valid for Coach seats only; upgrade to Business class is allowed upon payment of full applicable accommodation fee.
  • Fares, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice.
  • Subject to any restrictions, blackouts and refund rules that apply to the type of fare purchased and upon which the discount is based.
  • Once travel has begun, no changes to the itinerary are permitted.
  • Not combinable with any other discount offer.
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Book your reservation on Amtrak’s website:

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer/AM_Content_C/1246042803253/1