Blue Water (train)

Blue Water
The westbound, double-ended Blue Water approaching Chicago in 2020
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail, higher-speed rail
PredecessorInternational
First serviceApril 25, 2004
Current operator(s)Amtrak
Annual ridership168,848 (FY23) Increase 16.4%[a][1]
Route
TerminiChicago, Illinois
Port Huron, Michigan
Stops11
Distance travelled319 miles (513 km)
Average journey time6 hours, 25 minutes[2] (Port Huron to Chicago)
6 hours, 31 minutes[2](Chicago to Port Huron)
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)364 (eastbound)
365 (westbound)
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed49 mph (79 km/h) (avg.)
110 mph (180 km/h) (top)
Track owner(s)CN, Amtrak, MDOT, NS
Route map
Map
319 mi
513 km
Port Huron Blue Water Area Transit
274 mi
441 km
Lapeer
256 mi
412 km
Flint Flint Mass Transportation Authority
238 mi
383 km
Durand
208 mi
335 km
East Lansing Capital Area Transportation Authority
160 mi
257 km
Battle Creek Battle Creek Transit
138 mi
222 km
Kalamazoo Metro Transit (Kalamazoo)
102 mi
164 km
Dowagiac
89 mi
143 km
Niles
62 mi
100 km
New Buffalo
0 mi
0 km
Chicago Chicago Transit Authority Metra

Handicapped/disabled access All stations are accessible

The Blue Water (previously the Blue Water Limited) is a higher-speed passenger train service operated by Amtrak as part of its Michigan Services. The 319-mile (513 km) route runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Port Huron in Michigan's Blue Water Area, for which the train is named. Major stops are in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, East Lansing, and Flint.

Amtrak began running the Blue Water in 1974[3] over the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. In 1982 the train was extended from Port Huron to Toronto, Canada, and renamed the International Limited. Service was cut back to the original route in 2004 with the Blue Water name restored.[3]


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  1. ^ "Amtrak Fiscal Year 2023 Ridership" (PDF). Amtrak. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Amtrak Timetable Results". www.amtrak.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Michigan's Railroad History 1825 - 2014" (PDF). Michigan Department of Transportation. October 13, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2024.