Lake Cities (Amtrak)
Encyclopedia
The Lake Cities was a daily passenger train operated by Amtrak
between Chicago, Illinois and Toledo, Ohio
via Detroit, Michigan
. It was formerly known as the St. Clair, a Chicago–Detroit train which operated in tandem with the Wolverine. The extension to Toledo gave travelers in Michigan
the opportunity to connect with eastbound trains such as the Lake Shore Limited
without backtracking to Chicago.
The Lake Cities made its first run on August 3, 1980, using the same Turboliner
equipment as its predecessor. Amtrak re-routed the Lake Cities to Pontiac, Michigan
in 1995, mirroring the route of the Wolverine and the Twilight Limited. The Detroit–Toledo segment was replaced by Thruway Motorcoach service. Amtrak proposed to restore the Lake Cities to Toledo as part of its network growth strategy in the late 1990s but ultimately cancelled the project. it is not possible to travel by train to or from Michigan without passing through Chicago's Union Station
. In 2004 Amtrak dropped the individual names for the Chicago–Detroit–Pontiac trains, naming them all the "Wolverine."
The Ohio Rail Development Commission has proposed restoring service to the Detroit–Toledo corridor as part of its "Ohio Hub" initiative. Under it Detroit would be connected to Ohio
by a Detroit–Toledo–Cleveland service (eight trains daily) and potentially also a Detroit–Toledo–Columbus service (eight trains daily).
Lake Cities
was also the name of a Chicago – New York City
service operated by the Erie Railroad
and its successors between 1947 and 1970.
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...
between Chicago, Illinois and Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
via Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. It was formerly known as the St. Clair, a Chicago–Detroit train which operated in tandem with the Wolverine. The extension to Toledo gave travelers in 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"....
the opportunity to connect with eastbound trains such as the 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...
without backtracking to Chicago.
The Lake Cities made its first run on August 3, 1980, using the same Turboliner
Turboliner
The Amtrak Turboliners are gas turbine trainsets built for Amtrak. The trains were powered by gas turbine engines and ran on diesel fuel. Some were equipped with third rail shoes to enable entry into the underground tunnels approaching Grand Central Terminal and New York Penn Station in New York...
equipment as its predecessor. Amtrak re-routed the Lake Cities to Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
in 1995, mirroring the route of the Wolverine and the Twilight Limited. The Detroit–Toledo segment was replaced by Thruway Motorcoach service. Amtrak proposed to restore the Lake Cities to Toledo as part of its network growth strategy in the late 1990s but ultimately cancelled the project. it is not possible to travel by train to or from Michigan without passing through Chicago's 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...
. In 2004 Amtrak dropped the individual names for the Chicago–Detroit–Pontiac trains, naming them all the "Wolverine."
The Ohio Rail Development Commission has proposed restoring service to the Detroit–Toledo corridor as part of its "Ohio Hub" initiative. Under it Detroit would be connected to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
by a Detroit–Toledo–Cleveland service (eight trains daily) and potentially also a Detroit–Toledo–Columbus service (eight trains daily).
Lake Cities
Lake Cities (train)
The Lake Cities was a passenger train operated by the Erie Railroad and its successor the Erie Lackawanna Railway between Chicago, Illinois and New York City....
was also the name of a Chicago – New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
service operated by the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
and its successors between 1947 and 1970.