Amtrak upgrade between Detroit and Chicago

Rail congestion along a Detroit Amtrak route is expected to be alleviated with the addition of a new track to separate the movement of freight and passenger trains. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Thursday that the Federal Railroad Administration is providing a $7.9 million grant for the West Detroit Connection Track project. Michigan will match that amount. The project is set to break ground later this year. LaHood says the work will eliminate “a longstanding bottleneck” and create “capacity to handle future rail demand” as the population increases. The West Detroit Junction is a key link between the Dearborn Station and the Detroit New Center Station. Amtrak’s “Wolverine” service will use the new track for its three daily round-trip trains between Chicago and the Detroit area.  (AP)