LANSING – State officials announced Wednesday the purchase of 135 miles of rail line from Norfolk Southern Railway as part of an effort to increase passenger rail speeds across the state.
The rail, between Kalamazoo and Dearborn, is part of the Amtrak Wolverine line and officials hope to improve the rails and bed to allow passenger trains to travel 110 miles per hour along the corridor.
“Investing in rail service will spark economic development in communities along a corridor linking Detroit and Chicago, two vital Midwest cities,” Governor Rick Snyder said. “A faster, reliable passenger rail system is a priority for younger generations and vital to Michigan’s ability to compete globally as businesses look to locate or expand. The rail improvements will also hasten the transport of freight, a priority for Ford Motor Company and other Michigan businesses along the route.”
The $140 million paid for the rail was a combination of Federal Railroad Administration grant funds and state matching funds. Overall, the project is planned to cost $350 million from those funds.
The purchase includes an easement to allow Norfolk Southern to continue freight service through the corridor.
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