Pere Marquette (passenger train)
Encyclopedia
Pere Marquette is a passenger train service operated by Amtrak
as part of its Michigan Services
. The 176-mile (283 km) line connects Grand Rapids, Michigan
, and Chicago, Illinois. Pere Marquette is funded in part by the Michigan Department of Transportation
. It is served by train 370 eastbound and train 371 westbound.
The train is named for a named train of the defunct Pere Marquette Railway
, and in turn for Pere Marquette, Michigan, an early name for Ludington
. The town was named for Father Jacques Marquette, a French explorer of the Great Lakes
region.
and CSX Transportation
trackage:
, which ran between Detroit and Grand Rapids 6 times a day. When the Pere Marquette Railway was absorbed into the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad in 1947, the name was maintained, but the service was extended to Chicago.
The National Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB) determines that the probable cause of the collision was the failure of the Amtrak engineer to correctly interpret the signal at Englewood interlocking and Amtrak's failure to ensure that the engineer had the competency to correctly interpret signals across the different territories over which he operated. The NTSB released their finding on the crash on March 31, 2009.
was relocated from the CSX trackage to the Amtrak-owned alignment closer to the shore of Lake Michigan. This new station is ADA-compliant and has a more extensive shelter. As a result, Pere Marquette no longer stops in New Buffalo. Instead, the city is served by Wolverine and Blue Water trains.
or Midway International Airport, using nearby CTA
stations. For O'Hare, riders walk to the Clinton CTA station and ride the Blue line
, which operates 24 hours a day. For Midway, riders walk to the Quincy/Wells CTA station and ride the Orange line
.
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
as part of its Michigan Services
Michigan Services
Michigan Services is an umbrella term used by Amtrak to describe passenger rail service by three routes connecting Chicago, Illinois, with the Michigan cities of Grand Rapids, Port Huron, and Detroit, and other stations along the three lines...
. The 176-mile (283 km) line connects Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, and Chicago, Illinois. Pere Marquette is funded in part by the Michigan Department of Transportation
Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
. It is served by train 370 eastbound and train 371 westbound.
The train is named for a named train of the defunct Pere Marquette Railway
Pere Marquette Railway
The Pere Marquette Railway was a railroad that operated in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. The railroad had trackage in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and the Canadian province of Ontario. Its primary connections included Buffalo; Toledo; and Chicago.The company was...
, and in turn for Pere Marquette, Michigan, an early name for Ludington
Ludington, Michigan
Ludington is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,357. It is the county seat of Mason County.Ludington is a harbor town located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River...
. The town was named for Father Jacques Marquette, a French explorer of the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
region.
Route details
The Pere Marquette operates over Norfolk Southern RailwayNorfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
and CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
trackage:
- Norfolk Southern between Chicago and Porter, IndianaPorter, IndianaPorter is a town in Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,972 at the 2000 census.Porter is noted for its proximity to the Indiana Dunes State Park and for its railroad heritage...
- CSX between Porter, Indiana and Grand Rapids
Pre-Amtrak
The Pere Marquette was a named train of the Pere Marquette RailwayPere Marquette Railway
The Pere Marquette Railway was a railroad that operated in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. The railroad had trackage in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and the Canadian province of Ontario. Its primary connections included Buffalo; Toledo; and Chicago.The company was...
, which ran between Detroit and Grand Rapids 6 times a day. When the Pere Marquette Railway was absorbed into the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad in 1947, the name was maintained, but the service was extended to Chicago.
The Amtrak years
Amtrak revived the name for its Grand Rapids – Chicago service in 1984. This version of Pere Marquette began on August 5, 1984 with financial support from the state of Michigan. Initially it served Chicago, Hammond–Whiting, New Buffalo, St. Joseph, Bangor, Holland and Grand Rapids. Service at Hammond–Whiting ended April 29, 2001 (other trains still stop there). Service at New Buffalo ended October 26, 2009, when a new station opened along a different alignment.2007 crash
On 30 November 2007, the southbound Pere Marquette collided with a Norfolk Southern freight train in Chicago, injuring 30 people.The National Transportation Safety Board
National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
(NTSB) determines that the probable cause of the collision was the failure of the Amtrak engineer to correctly interpret the signal at Englewood interlocking and Amtrak's failure to ensure that the engineer had the competency to correctly interpret signals across the different territories over which he operated. The NTSB released their finding on the crash on March 31, 2009.
25th Anniversary
The Pere Marquette route celebrated its 25th anniversary on August 5, 2009. Local, state and federal officials spoke during ceremonies at stations along the route during the train's southbound trip to Chicago.New Buffalo Station Closure
In October 26, 2009, the New Buffalo Amtrak stationNew Buffalo (Amtrak station)
The New Buffalo Amtrak station is a train station in New Buffalo, Michigan, United States, served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. The and stop here twice daily in each direction...
was relocated from the CSX trackage to the Amtrak-owned alignment closer to the shore of Lake Michigan. This new station is ADA-compliant and has a more extensive shelter. As a result, Pere Marquette no longer stops in New Buffalo. Instead, the city is served by Wolverine and Blue Water trains.
Ridership
During fiscal year 2011, the Pere Marquette carried 106,662 passengers, an increase of 4.7% from 2010, when it carried 101,907 passengers. Ticket revenue in 2011 was $3.2 million, an increase of 9.8% from 2010's total of $2.9 million.On-time performance
During 2008, the on-time performance of Route 370 (Chicago-Grand Rapids) was 33.6%, and the on-time performance of Route 371 (Grand Rapids-Chicago) was 13.5%. By September 2010, these figures had changed to 63.3% and 13.3%, respectively. Amtrak owns 10 miles (16.1 km) of this line; freight railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern own the remainder. Track and signal delays and freight train interference on these lines make up the majority of delays.Station Stops
| State | Town/City | Station | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
Chicago Chicago Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... |
Chicago Union Station Union Station (Chicago) Union Station is a major train station that opened in 1925 in Chicago, replacing an earlier 1881 station. It is now the only intercity rail terminal in Chicago, as well as being the city's primary terminal for commuter trains. The station stands on the west side of the Chicago River between Adams... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... : Blue Water, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carl Sandburg Carl Sandburg (Amtrak) The Carl Sandburg is a 258-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. This train began operation on October 30, 2006 and is an addition to the existing Illinois Service rail network created in 1971 and partially funded by the Illinois Department of... , California Zephyr California Zephyr The California Zephyr is a long passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the midwestern and western United States.It runs from Chicago, Illinois, in the east to Emeryville, California, in the west, passing through the states of Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California... , City of New Orleans City of New Orleans The City of New Orleans is a nightly passenger train operated by Amtrak which travels between Chicago, Illinois and New Orleans, Louisiana. Before Amtrak's formation in 1971, the train was operated by the Illinois Central Railroad along the same route . The train currently operates on a 19½ hour... , Empire Builder Empire Builder The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before... , Hiawatha Service, Hoosier State, Illini Illini (Amtrak) The Illini is a 310-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Carbondale, Illinois. The train is a part of the Illinois Service rail network and is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation and by local governments along the route... , Illinois Zephyr Illinois Zephyr The Illinois Zephyr is a 258-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. The train is a part of the Illinois Service rail network and is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation... , Lake Shore Limited Lake Shore Limited The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston... , Lincoln Service, Saluki Saluki (Amtrak) The Saluki is a 310-mile passenger train line operated by Amtrak running between Chicago and Carbondale, Illinois. The train is a part of the Illinois Service rail network and is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation... , Southwest Chief Southwest Chief The Southwest Chief is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 2256-mile BNSF route through the Midwestern and Southwestern United States. It runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, passing through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California... , Texas Eagle Texas Eagle The Texas Eagle is a 1306-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the central and western United States. Trains run daily between Chicago, Illinois, and San Antonio, Texas, and continue to Los Angeles, California, 2728 miles total, three days a week... , Wolverine, Thruway Motorcoach CTA Buses: 1, 7, 14, 19, 20, X20, X28, 56, 60, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 128, 129, 130, 151, 156, 157, 192 Megabus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7 Metra Metra Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by... : North Central Service North Central Service The North Central Service is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the North Central Service line are printed in light "Soo... , Milwaukee District/North Line Milwaukee District/North Line The Milwaukee District/North is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs... , Milwaukee District/West Line Milwaukee District/West Line The Milwaukee District/West is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs... , BNSF Railway Line BNSF Railway Line The BNSF Railway Line is a commuter rail line in the United States, provided by Metra and operated by the BNSF Railway in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs... , Heritage Corridor Heritage Corridor The Heritage Corridor Line is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the Heritage Corridor line are printed in dark "Alton... , SouthWest Service SouthWest Service The SouthWest Service is an American commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra, running southwest from Union Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois, to Manhattan, Illinois... |
| Michigan Michigan Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake".... |
St. Joseph St. Joseph, Michigan St. Joseph is a city in the US state of Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,789. It lies on the shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, about east-northeast of Chicago. It is the county... |
St. Joseph Amtrak Station St. Joseph (Amtrak station) The St. Joseph Amtrak station also known as the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Amtrak Station is a train station in St. Joseph, Michigan, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system.Of the 22 Michigan stations served by Amtrak, St... |
Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority Twin Cities Area Tranportation Authority is an urban/rural transit provider that provides fixed-route and dial-a-ride bus transit service throughout the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor area. It was established in 1974 It is funded through federal grants and state and local funds... : Red Route |
| Bangor Bangor, Michigan Bangor is a city in Van Buren County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,933. The city is located in the northeast corner of Bangor Township, but is politically independent.... |
Bangor Station Bangor (Amtrak station) Bangor Station is an Amtrak station in Bangor, Michigan on the Pere Marquette. The renovated station includes an enclosed waiting area, washrooms, a coffee shop, free parking, and payphones.... |
||
| Holland Holland, Michigan Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River .... |
Padnos Transportation Center Holland (Amtrak station) The Holland Amtrak station is a train station in Holland, Michigan, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. The present facility, called the "Louis & Helen Padnos Transportation Center" serves as both an Amtrak station and a central hub Macatawa Area Express a bus... |
MAX Macatawa Area Express The Macatawa Area Express is a the primary provider of mass transportation in Ottawa County's Holland-Zeeland metropolitan area. The system is named after the Macatawa River, which runs through Holland, Michigan. It was originally established in the year 2000 as an outgrowth of Holland's... : all routes |
|
| Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand... |
Grand Rapids station Grand Rapids (Amtrak station) The Grand Rapids Amtrak Station is a train station in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States served by Amtrak, the U.S. national railroad passenger system. The station is the terminus of the Pere Marquette line that connects Chicago's Union Station to Grand Rapids... |
Thruway Motorcoach: Indian Trails Indian Trails Indian Trails is an inter-city bus company based in Owosso, Michigan.- History :Indian Trails was founded in 1910 in Owosso as the Phillips-Taylor Livery Service, whose main business was transporting cargo to and from Durand Union Station and the surrounding Shiawassee County... The Rapid Interurban Transit Partnership The Interurban Transit Partnership operates a public transport system called The Rapid, which provides bus service to the Grand Rapids, Michigan metropolitan area and beyond... : Route 8 |
Airport connections
At the Chicago end of the line, riders can connect to either O'Hare International AirportO'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
or Midway International Airport, using nearby CTA
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
stations. For O'Hare, riders walk to the Clinton CTA station and ride the Blue line
Blue Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Blue Line consists of a long trunk line in the Chicago Transit Authority's rapid transit system which extends through Chicago's Loop from O'Hare International Airport at the far northwest end of the city, through downtown via the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway, and across the West Side to its...
, which operates 24 hours a day. For Midway, riders walk to the Quincy/Wells CTA station and ride the Orange line
Orange Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Orange Line, is a rapid transit line in Chicago, Illinois run by the Chicago Transit Authority as part of the 'L' system. It is approximately long, and runs below grade and elevated on existing railroad embankments and new concrete and steel structures from Chicago Midway International...
.
Consist
Today, a normal Amtrak Pere Marquette consists of:- One GE Genesis P42DC locomotive
- Three SuperlinerSuperlinerSuperliner may refer to:*Superliner - an ocean liner of more than 10,000 gross tons*Superliner - a double decker passenger car used by Amtrak*Mack Super-Liner - a heavy-duty truck manufactured by Mack Trucks...
coaches