The Detroit Amtrak Station a sleek beige building stands proudly. It’s a modern marvel. It replaced a much grander station. The Michigan Central Station. That station closed in 1988. For years Amtrak used a temporary platform nearby.
This station opened on May 5 1994. It sits on West Baltimore Avenue. It’s in the New Center area. This is northwest of downtown. New Center became important in the early 20th century. General Motors and other car companies built headquarters there.
The Detroit Amtrak Station is a one-story building. It has an entrance porch. Large arched windows let in plenty of light. A tower at the back leads to the platforms. The tracks are elevated. From here passengers can connect to buses. They can also use the QLine streetcars.
The station is owned by the Michigan Department of Transportation. The parking lot is also theirs. But the platforms and tracks belong to the Canadian National Railway Company. Specifically its subsidiary Grand Trunk Western.
In 2021 the Michigan Department of Transportation got $10 million. This came from the U S Department of Transportation. They are planning a new intermodal facility. This will combine Amtrak and local buses. It will make travel more convenient. They are looking for a location now.
Detroit’s history is rich and layered. The French founded it in 1701. It was a fort then. Its location was ideal. It was on the strait connecting Lakes Erie and Huron. The name comes from the French phrase Rivière du Détroit meaning River of the Strait. It was once the largest town in French territory. This was between Montreal and New Orleans. The fur trade brought it wealth. Later it became British then American. It was even captured by the British during the War of 1812.
Detroit was Michigan’s first city to get rail service. This was in 1837. The Detroit and Pontiac Railway brought the trains. Early rail travel was slow by today’s standards. A trip from Detroit to Jackson in 1841 took seven hours. Over time more rail lines connected Detroit to the US and Canada. This boosted its economy. The Pennsylvania Railroad arrived in 1922. They worked closely with Ford Motor Company.
Detroit is the world’s car capital. The 20th century was the city’s golden age. Ford General Motors Chrysler and Packard all became huge. The city’s Art Deco skyscrapers reflect this boom. But Detroit also has a great music scene. Motown put the city on the map. It still influences music today.
The Detroit Amtrak Station is a vital part of the city. It’s a modern station with a rich history. It connects Detroit to the rest of the country and beyond. It’s a symbol of Detroit’s past present and future. It’s a place where journeys begin. So step inside and start your own Detroit adventure.