advertisement

---

Yesterday, Amtrak marked the 25th anniversary of Pere Marquette service, which runs between Grand Rapids, Mich., and Chicago.

To commemorate the milestone, the national intercity passenger railroad operated Superliner equipment on the line and handed out gift bags.

Pere Marquette ridership, which has increased every year since 2001, reached 111,716 passengers last year.

Meanwhile, Amtrak today will unveil the first passenger car to be removed from storage, restored to good condition and returned to service because of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA) funding. The bi-level Superliner car, which will be primarily used on trains traveling in the Midwest and West, was refurbished at Amtrak’s Beech Grove, Ind., maintenance facility.

The Beech Grove facility will receive $19.3 million in ARRA funds to restore 21 passenger cars and an additional $13 million to rehabilitate 15 diesel locomotives.