ANN ARBOR-TO-DETROIT COMMUTER RAIL: SEMCOG says demonstration trains could start next year
By RYAN J. STANTON Political Reporter 61 Comments
Posted on Wed, Nov 14, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
Six newly refurbished, bi-level commuter rail cars made their first test run from Pontiac to Jackson and back Tuesday night, passing through Ann Arbor.
Officials involved in the Ann Arbor-to-Detroit commuter rail initiative are hoping to hear back sometime next week whether the cars passed the test, which is required to be cleared for service. And if that happens, the public could be invited to ride demonstration trains starting next year.
Steve Sobel of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers captured this shot of the newly refurbished rail cars during this week's testing.
"Things seemed to go well," said Carmine Palombo, director of transportation programs for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.
Tuesday's train, led by an Amtrak locomotive, made stops in Birmingham, Royal Oak, Detroit's New Center, Dearborn, the sites of planned commuter rail stations at Henry Ruff and Michigan Avenue near Detroit Metro Airpot and at Depot Town in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Dexter and Chelsea before arriving in Jackson. The cars were tested at normal operating speeds of up to 79 mph.
http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arb...-rail-cars-pa/
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If I lived in Michigan I'd definitely be taking this.
Commuting to work you can sip your coffee in comfort, check emails and news and don't have to worry about traffic or road conditions
Going to game in Ann Arbor? You and your friends can sit in a group actually facing each other. Open up some beers and snack foods. Yeah...can't do that while driving!