Railroad Forums 

  • Michigan Central Station

  • Discussion related to Amtrak also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corp.
Discussion related to Amtrak also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corp.

Moderators: GirlOnTheTrain, mtuandrew, Tadman

 #1322753  by JimBoylan
 
Possibly this problem was resolved:
Amtrak and VIA Rail have restricted the stainless steel superliner equipment for use in Canada. The Heritage and AM Fleet 2 equipment, which does not present the problem of locked wheelchair-accessible washrooms, has now been introduced to this service.
The last through Westbound International did use Superliner cars. There is an Internet photo showing them coupled to the deadheading single level Via cars to be used for the replacement local train in Canada.
 #1360092  by Dreezy
 
I'll bite. I think Michigan Central Station could be an opportunity for some real estate developer. I recall something that one of my college professors once said. He mused once during class about how he wished he had a little extra money to buy some vacant land in Detroit. He said that he thought that Detroit was eventually going to come around, and that there's money to be made for people who own plots in the city. I think MCS could be such an opportunity. There are other buildings nearby (a book depository, an old post office building, and another empty office building) that could be repurposed. A renovated MCS with office space, shopping, and Amtrak and VIA service could anchor a neighborhood renewal project. I am not as familiar with Detroit I would like to be, though.
 #1414051  by gokeefe
 
All new windows installed at the very end of last year. Surprised it wasn't reported here. Here's the article:
DETROIT - It's far from renovated, but Michigan Central Station in Detroit certainly received a facelift.

A spokeswoman for the Detroit International Bridge Company, owned by the Moroun family, said all the windows in the train station have been replaced.

The massive project was completed on Dec. 31, 2015, according to a press release from Chamberlain Glass and Metal, Inc., the St. Clair, Mich.-based company that won the bid for the renovation.
...
Chamberlain reports all 1,050 windows were replaced on time and on budget.
Very interesting news ...
 #1414056  by John_Perkowski
 
Sounds like the Moroun family is interested in managing taxes by managing land with Detroit. I would seriously doubt this building will ever see railroad service again.
 #1414065  by Tadman
 
I went past MCS yesterday. Still a very grubby dark place with new windows. My wife was with me and I explained a bit about the place. Today we boarded 353 at the local Amshack in New Center (detroit station) and she was like "wtf with the dumpy station?".
 #1414066  by gokeefe
 
John_Perkowski wrote:Sounds like the Moroun family is interested in managing taxes by managing land with Detroit. I would seriously doubt this building will ever see railroad service again.
I felt much the same way myself ... And then I looked at Google Maps ...

It's much closer to the slowly revitalizing downtown core and has other potential advantages ... Correct me if I'm wrong Amtrak does not serve any stations beyond Detroit on any route right?

I agree that it's potential use for future Amtrak service is very much in doubt ... But now it's $12 million dollars less in doubt ... Hard to ignore that kind of cold hard cash ...
 #1414069  by Gilbert B Norman
 
Mr. Dunville, the Mrs.' comment could be taken two ways; "wtf with THIS dumpy station" or conversely "wtf with THAT dumpy station"?

I was in Detroit this past October, and I drove by MCS on I-75 to Toledo. I did note the new windows; maybe the owner will go two steps beyond - sandblast the exterior and then get some soft Blue night floodlights to surround the place.

Detroit is coming back! abandoned buildings, such as the Book-Cadillac Hotel are being restored in Downtown (I stayed at Marriott Renaissance Center this trip; had a fistful of Marriott points to burn off). While I think at 105 Sq mi, it has far more acreage than its tax base and a stable 715K population can begin to support, some areas will have to be "decorporated". Now could there be enough commercial and residential development to fill in the void between the South end of Downtown and MCS, that should be addressed by urban planners. But to me, it is the only hope to have MCS redeveloped.

Now so far as a train station, forget it. Detroit is simply an intermediate stop on the Grand Funk between Dearborn and Pontiac, so if the State sponsored Wolverines were to use MCS, there would be a run-in-back-out move involved.

I'm rooting for Detroit; the DSO is a world class ensemble, and I walked, albeit daylight, along Woodward Ave. from Marriott to Orchestra Hall without any fears whatever. While premature at this time, I can envision.one making that same walk after dark and without incident.
 #1414105  by gokeefe
 
Worth noting that efforts to restore Buffalo Central Terminal, which have been well underway for ten years already, have taken off in light of the roof collapse at one of the "Amshack" stations in Buffalo.

Given the long history of shared service between these two stations I can easily see officials in the Motor City saying, "we could do this too".

Worth noting the similar context of "Amshack" stations in Detroit as well. These truly awful facilities have been remarkable in their success as an impetus for restoration of historic stations throughout the country.

I can think of two right off ... Richmond Main Street (Richmond Staples Mill - Amshack), St. Paul Union Depot (Midway - Amshack).
 #1414109  by Gilbert B Norman
 
Actually Mr. O'Keefe, Buffalo Exchange St - the one whose roof collapsed - was an NYC "shack". It was built to make way for I-190.

But there is a difference between BCT and MCS in that BCT is located on an Amtrak passenger route and could again be a "run through". Although MCS is also a run through into the Detroit River tunnel. It is not on the existing Amtrak route. To access it, as I noted earlier, would require a backup move, adding time to a service that its sponsors would like to have become drive time competitive.
 #1414115  by gokeefe
 
Do you think this problem could be addressed by simply running a reverse move instead? I've noticed since the institution of 110 MPH service that the Michigan trains are usually running with power on both ends. As best I can tell from the satellite all the necessary track and switches are already in place.
  • 1
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 33