SEMTA Commuter Rail
Silver Streak | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SEMTA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SEMTA Commuter Rail, also known as the Silver Streak, was a
History
Grand Trunk
Passenger rail service between Detroit and Pontiac dated back to 1843 with the completion of the
SEMTA
The
SEMTA's April 1983 timetable featured a stylized
Expansion politics
Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s SEMTA attempted to expand its commuter rail network as part of an integrated regional transit plan. These efforts failed because of funding problems and political disagreement.
In 1974 the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and SEMTA rolled out a transit plan for rapid transit, bus rapid transit, people movers, and improved commuter rail. It included improvements for existing services on the Grand Trunk route to Pontiac and the
SEMTA unveiled a smaller plan in 1977 for $1.2 billion in transit projects, to be partially funded by the federal government. This plan included two rapid transit lines, three bus rapid transit lines, the Detroit People Mover, and upgrades to existing bus routes. For commuter rail SEMTA allocated $42 million, both for the existing Pontiac route and to create service from Detroit to Ann Arbor and Port Huron, but not Plymouth. The system would total 120 miles (190 km).[17]
In 1979 the Michigan Department of Transportation commissioned a $350,000 feasibility study for the revival of passenger service over the C&O between Detroit and Lansing, the state capital.[18] In 1947 the C&O's famed Pere Marquettes covered the distance in an hour and a half.[19] The study included commuter rail service to Plymouth, a distance of 24 miles (39 km). SEMTA, as in 1974, was non-committal, believing the C&O route "too congested" with freight traffic and preferring to establish service through Wayne County to Ann Arbor over the former Penn Central route, which was now owned by Conrail.[18] It was anticipated at that time that SEMTA would assume operation of the existing Ann Arbor commuter service, then operated by Amtrak, by 1984.[9]
In 1981 SEMTA formally proposed a Detroit–Ann Arbor commuter service, operating over the Conrail route. This route already saw three Amtrak intercity trains per day, plus the Amtrak-operated Detroit–Ann Arbor Michigan Executive commuter train, like SEMTA a holdover from private operation. SEMTA proposed Conrail would operate the service under contract, with a minimum of eight round-trips per day. The Detroit terminus would be a new station near Joe Louis Arena.[11]
Amtrak revival
Passenger rail service resumed over the Grand Trunk on May 5, 1994, when
Route
SEMTA operated a single line from Detroit to Pontiac, running parallel to Woodward Avenue. In Detroit trains used a small station at St. Antoine and Franklin near site of Brush Street Station, which was demolished in 1973 to make way for the Renaissance Center (later SEMTA timetables simply indicated "Renaissance Center" as the Detroit terminus). Outbound stops included Milwaukee Junction, the Chrysler Center in Highland Park, Ferndale at 9 Mile Road, Royal Oak (at 11 Mile Road and at 12 Mile Road), Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills (at Charing Cross Road and at Long Lake Road), and finally Pontiac.[12] The total distance was 26.3 miles (42.3 km).[22]
Equipment
SEMTA owned a pool of 23 steam-heated passenger coaches; 12 of these were originally from the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) and the other 11 from the Union Pacific Railroad.[23] Refit for commuter service each coach could seat 92.[8]: 61 In May 1976 SEMTA acquired the old PRR Keystone trainset (the so-called "tubular train") from Amtrak for $80,000 but this equipment did not enter service.[24]: 156 [25] The Grand Trunk employed both EMD GP9 and EMD GP18 locomotives for motive power.[8]: 62
References
- ^ Baxter, Albert (1891). History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Munsell & company.
- ^ OCLC 20098495.
- ^ "Commuter Travel Increased". Argus-Press. 25 Oct 1968.
- ^ "Commuter Plans Being Reconsidered". Argus-Press. 12 Apr 1971.
- ^ Hogan Jr., Henry M. (29 Sep 1977). "Will we ever see a rapid transit system?" (PDF). Canton Observer.
- ^ Macomb County Board of Commissioners (6 Apr 1977). "MINUTES OF THE TRANSPORTATION SUB-COMMITTEE" (PDF).
- Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (7 Mar 1975). "Grand Trunk Western Commuter Trains".
- ^ OCLC 2837267.
- ^ a b Pollack Design Associates (15 Nov 1979). "The Ann Arbor Depot: A First Phase Investigation of Location Alternatives for Rail Passenger Facilities" (PDF). annarborchronicle.com.
- Milwaukee Journal.
- ^ a b Risak, C. J. (12 Jan 1981). "SEMTA proposes rail transit plan" (PDF). Canton Observer.
- ^ Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (4 Apr 1983). "Silver Streak".
- ^ Parrish, Kathy (6 Oct 1983). "For SEMTA, it's cuts as usual" (PDF). Canton Observer.
- ^ Parrish, Kathy (22 Nov 1984). "SEMTA's rail cars haul New Yorkers now" (PDF). Canton Observer.
- OCLC 827257284.
- ^ Coffman, Denny (19 Dec 1974). "Transit plan pegs auto future" (PDF). Canton Observer.
- ^ "Where transit money will go" (PDF). Canton Observer. 6 Jan 1977.
- ^ a b Lonergan, Tom (26 Jul 1979). "Commuter rail studied" (PDF). Canton Observer.
- ^ "The Pere Marquettes". Streamliner Schedules. Retrieved 9 Oct 2013.
- ISBN 978-0-253-34705-3.
- ^ "Transpo Center dream ends". The Oakland Press. 28 Jun 2005. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 15 Aug 2011.
- ^ Grand Trunk Western Railroad (31 Oct 1971). "Suburban Time Table and commutation fares between Detroit and Pontiac".
- ^ "Transit News" (PDF). Fast Mail (150). Twentieth Century Railroad Club: 5. Jul 1983.
- ISBN 978-1-932804-12-6.
- ^ "PRR CHRONOLOGY: 1968" (PDF). Jun 2004. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
See also
- Michigan Executive: defunct Detroit–Ann Arbor commuter service
- SEMCOG Commuter Rail: proposed Detroit–Ann Arbor commuter service