u/XShadeGoldenX

About a year ago I asked about what was in store for the Wolverine corridor in terms of service improvements, travel time reductions, etc. Do we know what’s next for these trains? Michigan can do a lot of good with these trains. I know they are upgrading the entire Michigan section of the line to 110 MPH speeds. When will we see the first travel time reductions and by how much? Will we see sub 4 hour travel times between Detroit and Chicago eventually? (needs to be rerouted through Indiana via the South Shore Line for that to happen). This line has so much potential to be a great line and eventually high speed rail line when we get there when we’re all old and gray. For any of you that are in Michigan and or know about this corridor, please let me know!

Obviously the VPRA is very ambitious with their projects and wanting to bring more train service to Virginia. They are purchasing new right of way, building new tracks and separations from freight, bypasses, the big Long Bridge project expected to be completed in 2030, increasing maximum speeds from 70 MPH to 90 MPH etc. They had to cut back service in and out of the state because of the construction. Increasing service and capacity is obviously the main goal which makes sense. But one of the biggest things that will increase ridership the most is if it is extremely competitive or faster than driving. Do we know how quick travel times will be between Richmond and DC will be by 2030 or when these big projects by the VPRA will be completed? Would trips between Richmond Main Street and Washington DC be under 2 hours? If any of you know more about this please let me know!

I know that Amtrak is going to be upgrading Zoo Interlocking in the Zoo to Paoli project, but when will construction on it start and be completed? And most importantly, how much faster will trains go on the curve at Zoo Interlocking? 30 MPH on that curve is nowhere near fast enough and trains should be going about 60 MPH on that curve. There's been a lot of discussion about this on Twitter but not much specifics and not much confirmation. If any of you know more about this project plead let me know!