'''Blue Water Service''' is a daily Amtrak train route connecting downtown Chicago to Port Huron, Michigan. The journey takes about 8 hours, longer if delays occur along the route. Equipment used is common to Amtrak's shorter routes with single-level passengers cars and a snack bar car. The short trains may either be pulled or pushed depending on direction traveled.

Route Overview

The ''Blue Water'' begins its eastbound journey at Chicago's Union Station [http://www.chicagounionstation.com/]. Passengers see central and south Chicago as the train eases out of the station. The train heads east through the industrial areas of Whiting and Gary, before reaching the relatively open countryside of NE Indiana. After a stop in Niles, Michigan, the train continues through SW Michigan, stopping in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek before turning north to East Lansing; the station is close to Michigan State University. The ''Blue Water'' train then heads northeasterly, stopping in Durand, Flint, Lapeer, and finally Port Huron.

The route is 319 Miles in length.

Travel to Canada

The route is identical to the ''International'' service formerly offered by Amtrak, but lacks the direct connection to Canada at Port Huron/Sarnia, Ontario. Passengers wishing to cross will have to take a taxi, at some expense, to get to the Sarnia Via Rail station. Since the ''Blue Water'' doesn't arrive in Port Huron until 11PM, travelers using this route to travel by rail to points in the Canadian interior should plan to stay overnight (on either side of the border).

Cautions

This route is somewhat notorious for delays due to freight traffic in/around Chicago. Amtrak owns the rail line from Porter, IN to Kalamazoo, so delays there are uncommon, but other areas are owned by freight companies who have their own priorities. Because Chicago has such a concentration of rail traffic, delays of an hour or more may occur.