Passenger trains from Ann Arbor to Traverse City?

[OwlCaboose2853]

Passenger trains from Ann Arbor to Traverse City? Study explores potential
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/ind ... river_home

[NYCMan]

Gee, I can tell you what the conclusion of the study will be, and save the Taxpayers a couple hundred thousand dollars on doing this study. The study will say:
(1) this idea is the greatest idea since the invention of Swiss Cheese;
(2) ridership will be in the millions of people;
(3) that a tremendous profit potential will be realized by such an operation;
(4) that this will eliminate at least one million trucks traveling I-75 and US-131 each year;
(5) that the ridership potential is so great, that at least 6 round-trip trains per day will be required;
(6) that, if the track is upgraded to 110 MPH potential, then ridership will more than double;
... and other gratuitous comments like that.

In reality, the only people that will be getting rich are those that are selling the "study" to the Government.

[hoborich]

Oh joy! Another study. Your tax dollars at work.

[MiddleMI]

This was reported on months ago, wasn't it?

[TSB]

This was reported on months ago, wasn't it?

Actually, years. No, decades.

[MiddleMI]

This was reported on months ago, wasn't it?

Actually, years. No, decades.

Yeah, what I was getting at is that there is an existing thread on this here, I believe. This could have gone with that instead of giving the curmudgeons a new thread to whine on.

[hoborich]

I believe. This could have gone with that instead of giving the curmudgeons a new thread to whine on.

It's what we do. Sniff.........

[Saturnalia]

I believe. This could have gone with that instead of giving the curmudgeons a new thread to whine on.

It's what we do. Sniff.........

This may easily be the 5th or 6th thread dealing with this matter. And you're right, it is becoming repetitive. But hey, that's what Mlive specializes in!

[fmilhaupt]

Isn't it nearly the fortieth anniversary of this idea?

If I remember correctly, a couple of members of the second group to propose this, back around 1982, went on to purchase the south end of the Ann Arbor Railroad.

[Stinger4me]

Think of the work for the "Studiers", the burden for the taxpayers; and nothing will change.

[James Sofonia]

Oh joy! Another study. Your tax dollars at work.

Do any of these studies list the cost of laying welded rail on the entire route? That has to be a massive cost but quite necessary if you are going to compete with automobiles traveling down I-75 and US-23 to Ann Arbor in 3 1/2 hours.
It would be nice if they do this, I might even ride it once or twice a year.

[J T]

This could have gone with that instead of giving the curmudgeons a new thread to whine on.

I prefer to call them "realists."

[hoborich]

Do any of these studies list the cost of laying welded rail on the entire route?

Ummm, that will require a separate study.

[fmilhaupt]

Saw this last weekend and figured that this is realistically about as close as we'll get to regular passenger train service to Traverse City again.

[Tim]

Great find Fritz! Thanks for posting. Too bad it's chocolate

[Tom Train]

This idea also was studied in 1999.

[hoborich]

This idea also was studied in 1999.

And I'm sure it will be studied again in 2099!

[TSB]

Curious, will they allow dogs on the trains? Not just service dogs but also the ones that walk up behind your wife and
stick their nose up her a55.

[PatAzo]

Curious, will they allow dogs...

...and that has what to do with passenger service to Traverse City or anywhere else?

[EWRice]

Curious, will they allow dogs...

...and that has what to do with passenger service to Traverse City or anywhere else?

This is the trend now. To bring a little dog EVERYWHERE you go. The good people leave them in their cars with the engine running and air on for hours while they shop or eat. The bad ones make the news and have to talk to officer Flossy.