Posted on 11/14/2012 11:46:34 AM PST by Darren McCarty
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.
"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.
The Michigan Department of Transportation and SEMCOG were testing the cars in anticipation of using them for two future commuter rail service programs. That includes the east-west Ann Arbor-to-Detroit line and the north-south WALLY line linking Ann Arbor and Howell.
Local officials and many residents in Southeast Michigan have been waiting for years for commuter rail service between Ann Arbor and Detroit.
Palombo said the service won't begin anytime soon, but he's hopeful demonstration trains could run during special events next year — not this year as previously hoped.
"We don't have dedicated funding for the project yet, but this testing is the next step in the process," he said. "When the testing is completed, and hopefully we pass, the next step is to hold these event trains sometime next year, hopefully several of them."
(Excerpt) Read more at annarbor.com ...
I should mention that Little Saigon here has nothing to do with Vietnamese people, but the abundance of bullet holes in that neighborhood.
Pretty cool, quite ironic. That the capitol of makers of cars...wants everyone to ride the rails. Maybe they need to re tool and make locomotive engines.
“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.”
This new rail line could be great for transporting inmates from the OC jail to Jackson State Prison. Taxpayer dollars at work...
“Wasting my money on crap that nobody will use.”
C’mon. This could lead to a revival of Detroit. The thugs that have looted out Detroit now have access to a fresh bunch of wealthy and liberal (read anti-gun) communities to plunder.
I can just see the new rap tunes written about the opportunities offered: “Take the A2 Train.” “Case the Jones.” “Washtenaw Cannonball.”
That thing better not actually stop in Detroit; it’ll end up with no hubcaps.
“The Little Engine That Couldn’t”
Is it just me, or do they appear to be linking up all of the liberal hellholes with high-speed rail in order to get mobs of protesters to where they need them on short notice?
Transporting urban yoots from the slums of Detroit to Ann Arbor. AA deserves it.
We saw what happened with the DeHoCO and Scott correction facilities in the burbs. It brought the inner-city trash to our neighborhoods. Cars started disappearing, vandalism, theft, etc. Pretty much what everybody expected.
Thank God they’re closed. I think Michigan still has a few islands that could be forceably populated.
Islands? I can’ think of any offhand. How ‘bout landfills?
Local resident Willie Green was arrested during the maiden voyage for exposing himself along the route.
I just hope they stay south of Northfield Township. Either the yoots or the yuppies.
Willie Green, eh? What’s in a name!
Willie’s last post at FR. LOL
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2607597/posts?page=60#60
He loooooooooooved taxpayer funded trains.
Oh, THAT Willie Green...Poor Willie.
""The People Mover was intended to be the downtown distributor for a proposed city and metro-wide light rail transit system for Detroit in the early 1980s. In fiscal year 1999-2000 the city was spending $3 for every $0.50 rider fare, according to The Detroit News. In 2006, the Mover filled less than 10 percent of its seats.""
I still remember how hard they pushed that on us, Coleman Young swearing up and down it was going to save the city. The cost overruns and graft from just that one little stretch made him a rich, rich man.
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