DISCOVER THE RAIL WAY at NATIONAL TRAIN DAY

On Saturday, May 9, 2009, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP) and fellow organizations will join Amtrak in celebrating its second annual National Train Day at stations across the state of Michigan.

This celebration marks the eve of the 140th anniversary completion of the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869. It was here that a “golden spike” was driven into the final tie that joined the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads, connecting the east and west coast together for the first time by rail.

Amtrak is using National Train Day to highlight the growing popularity of trains as a convenient, energy efficient, environmentally sound ways of travel. National Train Day spokesman is TV personality and American Idol judge Randy Jackson.

Amtrak is sponsoring major events in Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, and Washington, D.C… MARP has 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 9, 2009 at the respective cities’ Amtrak stations unless otherwise noted.

City: Bangor, Michigan

Location: Amtrak Station – 541 Railroad Street (former Pere Marquette station) Time: 8:30am – 3:00pm

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

Description: Join us as we help Amtrak celebrate National Train Day at the historic Pere Marquette Railroad station in Bangor, Michigan. Witness the presentation of a proclamation presented to Amtrak’s Pere Marquette from the Mayor of Bangor, followed by festivities taking place at the station that include train exhibits, a live model railroad display, entertainment, trip planning, giveaways and so much more.

City: Niles, Michigan

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

Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm

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

Description: Join us as we help Amtrak celebrate National Train Day at the historic Michigan Central Railroad station in Niles, Michigan. Witness the presentation of a proclamation presented to Amtrak’s Blue Water from the Mayor of Niles, followed by festivities taking place at the station that include train exhibits, a live model railroad display, entertainment, 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 – 12:00pm (Transportation Center), 12:00 – 4:00pm (Model Railroad facility)

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society, Amtrak, City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County

Description: Join us as we help Amtrak celebrate National Train Day at the Kalamazoo Transportation Center and Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Witness the presentation of a proclamation presented to Amtrak’s Blue Water from the Mayor of Kalamazoo, followed by festivities taking place at the station and model railroad facility that include train exhibits, a live model railroad display, trip planning, and so much more.

City: Jackson, Michigan

Location: Amtrak Station – 501 E. Michigan Avenue (historic Michigan Central station) Time: 8:30am – 2:00pm

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

Description: Join us as we help Amtrak celebrate National Train Day at the nation’s oldest train station in continuous active use, the historic Michigan Central Railroad station in Jackson, Michigan. Witness the presentation of a proclamation presented to Amtrak’s Wolverine from the Mayor of Jackson, followed by festivities that include exhibits, a live model railroad display, trip planning and so much more.

City: Lapeer, Michigan

Location: Amtrak Station – 111 Howard Ave. (former Grand Trunk Western station)

Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, City of Lapeer, Lapeer Model Railroad Club, Blue Water Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, Blue Water Connection

Description: Join us as we help Amtrak celebrate National Train Day at the historic Grand Trunk Western station in Lapeer, Michigan. Witness the presentation of a proclamation presented to Amtrak’s Blue Water from the Mayor of Lapeer at 6:00am, followed by festivities taking place at the station beginning at 10:00am that include train exhibits, a live model railroad display, trip planning, and so much more.

City: Detroit, Michigan

Location: Amtrak Station – 11 W. Baltimore Avenue

Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Transportation Riders United

Description: Join us as we help Amtrak celebration National Train Day at the Amtrak station in Detroit, Michigan. Witness the presentation of a proclamation presented to Amtrak’s Wolverine from the Mayor of Detroit, followed by festivities taking place at the station that include train exhibits, trip planning and so much more.

Other locations in Michigan
(no celebration but proclamation presentation ONLY)

Ann Arbor, Michigan, Amtrak Station – 325 Depot Street
(for Amtrak Wolverine train 351 at 8:23 a.m.)

Holland, Michigan, Padnos Transportation Center – 171 Lincoln Avenue
(for Amtrak Pere Marquette train 371 at 8:21 a.m.)

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.

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* Special Meeting to Preserve Amtrak Trains in MI‏*

We Need Your Attendance
 Meeting Notice  

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, Department of Transportation

Members of the Subcommittee are:

Senators Hardiman, Bill – Kentwood (C) Cropsey, Alan L. – DeWitt (VC) and Anderson, Glenn S. – Westland (MVC)

Date: Friday, February 27, 2009

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Place: Kent County Road Commission, 300 Monroe NW, Room 310, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503
Link to Map: http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result.php?q1=300+Monroe+NW%2C+49503

Agenda:
• FY 2009-10 Department of Transportation Budget

• Road Funding Formula

• Amtrak

• And any other business to come properly before the Subcommittee

MARP will be testifying that the FY 2010 budget ($5.667 million) will leave Michigan standing at the station if it’s not increased to cover increases in capacity & frequency i.e. the second daily roundtrip between Chicago and Grand Rapids arriving before noon, departing back to Chicago in the evening and adding at least one more passenger car to the Blue Water train.

Joe Boardman, President and CEO states “As part of the stimulus bill signed by the president last week, we will receive $1.3 billion to make significant strides on capital programs, among other things, we’ll return to service 100 cars that are currently sidelined” (AMTRAK This Week Feb.23, 2009)

Michigan needs these cars which should be available at no cost to the state, for returning these cars to service. But if our legislators don’t act now what will the capital cost be in the future.

Please advise John Langdon at john-langdon@sbcglobal.net if you plan to attend.