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More people take to rails as Amtrak ridership goes up in Metro Detroit

Thursday, August 21, 2008

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Oakland County, Transit, Transportation, Wayne County

More and more people are riding that train in Michigan as Amtrak posts significant increases in ridership over the last year on all three of the lines that go through the state.

The Wolverine line increased 5.9 percent, jumping from 369,966 passengers in 2006-07 to 391,959 in 2007-08. The six daily trains travel along the Wolverine line between Pontiac and Chicago, via Detroit and other stations.

The Blue Water line went up 6.5 percent in the same time period. Ridership went from 105,605 in 2006-07 to 112,426 in 2007-08. Trains run between Port Huron and
Chicago, with stops in East Lansing and other stations, along the Blue Water.

Last and smallest, but not least is the 7.2 percent jump for the Pere Marquette line between Grand Rapids and Chicago. The line also stops in St. Joseph and at other stations. Ridership went from 86,073 to 92,248 in the same time period, jumping 7.2 percent.

Source: Marc Magliari, media relations manager for Amtrak
Writer: Jon Zemke