Michigan Central Railway Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Michigan Central Railway Tunnel is a railroad tunnel under the Detroit River
connecting Detroit, Michigan
, USA
with Windsor, Ontario
, Canada
. The U.S. entrance is south of Porter St. and Vermont St. near Rosa Parks Blvd. The Canadian entrance is south of Wyandotte St. W. between Cameron Ave. and Wellington Ave. It was built by the Detroit River Tunnel Company for the Canada Southern Railway
, leased by the Michigan Central Railroad
and owned by the New York Central Railroad
. The tunnel opened in 1910 and is still in use today by the Canadian Pacific Railway
. On the Detroit side, the area around the tunnel is off limits to the general public and is routinely patrolled by officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Canadian Pacific Railway Police, Canadian National Railway Police, the Detroit Police, and the security elements of the bridge company.
had several connections to Michigan
at its west end, all train ferries
. The northern one ran across the St. Clair River
, connecting to the St. Clair and Western Railroad. The southern connection crossed the Detroit River
south of Detroit, connecting to the Canada Southern Bridge Company at Grosse Ile
. Additionally a branch (usually considered the main line) split from the line to Grosse Ile at Essex, running to the Detroit River
at Windsor.
In 1891 the Grand Trunk Railway
opened the St. Clair Tunnel
at Port Huron, giving it an advantage over the Canada Southern and its car ferries. The Detroit River Tunnel Company was formed August 15, 1905 as a merger of the Michigan and Canada Bridge and Tunnel Company (in Michigan
) and the Canada and Michigan Bridge and Tunnel Company (in Canada
). Construction began in October 1906 under the engineering supervision of The New York Central Railway's engineering vice president, William J. Wilgus
. The Michigan Central Railway Tunnel opened for passenger service July 26, 1910. Freight service began September 15 and on October 16 all traffic began running via the tunnel, ending the use of a train car ferry
. From opening it was operated by the Michigan Central Railroad
under lease of December 19, 1906.
On the east (Canadian) side, the tunnel connected to the line that had served a train ferry at Windsor. On the west (U.S.) side, the tunnel connected to the Michigan Central Railroad
main line west of downtown (later abandoned east of the junction), and the Michigan Central Station
was built west of the junction, opening in 1913.
In 1968 the tunnel passed from the New York Central Railroad
to Penn Central, and in 1976 to Conrail. In 1985, Conrail sold the tunnel to the Canadian National Railway
and Canadian Pacific Railway
, with each getting a half share. In early 2000 CN agreed to sell its stake to Borealis Transportation and use only the St. Clair Tunnel
. Recently, plans from the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership (DRTP) were announced to construct a new railway tunnel and convert the existing railway tunnel to a two-lane road tunnel for transport trucks to alleviate pressure at the other nearby international border crossings (Ambassador Bridge
, Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry
), but these plans have been put on hold while the city governments of Windsor
and Detroit
, provincial/state governments of Ontario
and Michigan
, and federal government
s of Canada
and the United States determine the exact location of a future border crossing, with the City of Windsor's "GreenLink" proposal being the preferred option.
In 2010, The Windsor Port Authority, Borealis Infrastructure, and Canadian Pacific announced plans to construct a new rail tunnel compatible with double stacked trains. The initiative is known as the Continental Rail Gateway.
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
connecting Detroit, 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"....
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The U.S. entrance is south of Porter St. and Vermont St. near Rosa Parks Blvd. The Canadian entrance is south of Wyandotte St. W. between Cameron Ave. and Wellington Ave. It was built by the Detroit River Tunnel Company for the Canada Southern Railway
Canada Southern Railway
The Canada Southern Railway was a railway in southern Ontario, Canada, founded on February 28, 1868 as the Erie and Niagara Extension Railway. It adopted the Canada Southern Railway name on December 24, 1869. In 1904 the railway was leased to the Michigan Central Railroad for 99 years; in 1929 it...
, leased by the Michigan Central Railroad
Michigan Central Railroad
The Michigan Central Railroad was originally incorporated in 1846 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada...
and owned by the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
. The tunnel opened in 1910 and is still in use today by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
. On the Detroit side, the area around the tunnel is off limits to the general public and is routinely patrolled by officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Canadian Pacific Railway Police, Canadian National Railway Police, the Detroit Police, and the security elements of the bridge company.
History
Prior to the construction of the tunnel, the Canada Southern RailwayCanada Southern Railway
The Canada Southern Railway was a railway in southern Ontario, Canada, founded on February 28, 1868 as the Erie and Niagara Extension Railway. It adopted the Canada Southern Railway name on December 24, 1869. In 1904 the railway was leased to the Michigan Central Railroad for 99 years; in 1929 it...
had several connections to 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"....
at its west end, all train ferries
Train ferry
A train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
. The northern one ran across the St. Clair River
St. Clair River
The St. Clair River is a river in central North America which drains Lake Huron into Lake St Clair, forming part of the international boundary between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan...
, connecting to the St. Clair and Western Railroad. The southern connection crossed the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
south of Detroit, connecting to the Canada Southern Bridge Company at Grosse Ile
Grosse Ile
Grosse Ile may refer to:* Grosse Ile Township, Michigan*Grosse Ile , the largest island in the township* Grosse Ile, Quebec, an island where many Irish Immigrants to Canada were housed and the site of the Grosse Isle Disaster...
. Additionally a branch (usually considered the main line) split from the line to Grosse Ile at Essex, running to the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
at Windsor.
In 1891 the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
opened the St. Clair Tunnel
St. Clair Tunnel
The St. Clair Tunnel is the name for two separate rail tunnels which were built under the St. Clair River between Sarnia, Ontario and Port Huron, Michigan. It was the first full-size subaqueous tunnel built in North America. -First tunnel :The St. Clair Tunnel Company opened the first tunnel in...
at Port Huron, giving it an advantage over the Canada Southern and its car ferries. The Detroit River Tunnel Company was formed August 15, 1905 as a merger of the Michigan and Canada Bridge and Tunnel Company (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"....
) and the Canada and Michigan Bridge and Tunnel Company (in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
). Construction began in October 1906 under the engineering supervision of The New York Central Railway's engineering vice president, William J. Wilgus
William J. Wilgus
William J. Wilgus was an engineer. In 1902 he was responsible for the design and construction of New York City's Grand Central Station. Wilgus coined the term "taking wealth from the air" from his idea to lease the area above the Park Avenue Tunnel in order to help finance the station...
. The Michigan Central Railway Tunnel opened for passenger service July 26, 1910. Freight service began September 15 and on October 16 all traffic began running via the tunnel, ending the use of a train car ferry
Train ferry
A train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
. From opening it was operated by the Michigan Central Railroad
Michigan Central Railroad
The Michigan Central Railroad was originally incorporated in 1846 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada...
under lease of December 19, 1906.
On the east (Canadian) side, the tunnel connected to the line that had served a train ferry at Windsor. On the west (U.S.) side, the tunnel connected to the Michigan Central Railroad
Michigan Central Railroad
The Michigan Central Railroad was originally incorporated in 1846 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada...
main line west of downtown (later abandoned east of the junction), and the Michigan Central Station
Michigan Central Station
Michigan Central Station , built in mid-1912 through 1913 for the Michigan Central Railroad, was Detroit, Michigan's passenger rail depot from its opening in 1913 after the previous Michigan Central Station burned, until the cessation of Amtrak service on January 6, 1988...
was built west of the junction, opening in 1913.
In 1968 the tunnel passed from the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
to Penn Central, and in 1976 to Conrail. In 1985, Conrail sold the tunnel to the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
and Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
, with each getting a half share. In early 2000 CN agreed to sell its stake to Borealis Transportation and use only the St. Clair Tunnel
St. Clair Tunnel
The St. Clair Tunnel is the name for two separate rail tunnels which were built under the St. Clair River between Sarnia, Ontario and Port Huron, Michigan. It was the first full-size subaqueous tunnel built in North America. -First tunnel :The St. Clair Tunnel Company opened the first tunnel in...
. Recently, plans from the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership (DRTP) were announced to construct a new railway tunnel and convert the existing railway tunnel to a two-lane road tunnel for transport trucks to alleviate pressure at the other nearby international border crossings (Ambassador Bridge
Ambassador Bridge
The Ambassador Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan, in the United States, with Windsor, Ontario, in Canada. It is the busiest international border crossing in North America in terms of trade volume: more than 25 percent of all merchandise trade between the United States...
, Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry
Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry
The Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry is a ferry service that has transported cars and trucks across the Detroit River for over 100 years. It currently accepts only trucks. The ferry is the primary crossing for hazardous materials trucks between Windsor, La Salle, and Detroit, Michigan and the Downriver...
), but these plans have been put on hold while the city governments of Windsor
Windsor City Council
The Windsor City Council is the governing body of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.The council consists of the mayor plus ten elected city councillors representing the city as a whole.*Mayor: Eddie Francis*Ward 1: Dave Brister, Drew Dilkens...
and Detroit
Detroit City Council
The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The City Council consists of nine members elected for a four-year term in a single election conducted on an at-large and non-partisan basis...
, provincial/state governments of Ontario
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
and Michigan
Government of Michigan
Michigan is governed as a republic, with three branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the Governor of Michigan and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the House of Representatives and Senate; and the judicial branch...
, and federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
s of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
and the United States determine the exact location of a future border crossing, with the City of Windsor's "GreenLink" proposal being the preferred option.
In 2010, The Windsor Port Authority, Borealis Infrastructure, and Canadian Pacific announced plans to construct a new rail tunnel compatible with double stacked trains. The initiative is known as the Continental Rail Gateway.