Serving Chicago, East Lansing, Flint, Port Huron, and intermediate points
Amtrak train numbers: 364 and 365
Predecessor railroad train numbers: Canadian National/Grand Trunk Western Various
Until the start of Amtrak in 1971, Canadian National Railways and its U.S. subsidiary, the Grand Trunk Western, had run several trains a day between Chicago, Toronto, and Montreal, crossing the U.S./Canadian border between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario.
The discontinuance of these trains meant that Amtrak's Chicago-Detroit service was the only passenger rail in Michigan, leaving cities such as Battle Creek, Lansing, and Flint without train service.
The state of Michigan decided to fund a restoration of train service over the route between Chicago and Port Huron, on September 14, 1974, Amtrak inaugurated the Blue Water Limited, a day train running from Chicago to Port Huron.
In 1982, the train was extended to Toronto as a joint venture with VIA Rail and was renamed the International.
Condensed historical timetables:
READ DOWN READ UP
(1975) (1980) (1980) (1975)
3:15P 4:15P Dp Chicago Ar 11:35A 12:10P
9:20P 9:22P East Lansing 8:10A 8:20A
10:35P 10:13P Flint 7:22A 7:07A
11:55P 11:35P Ar Port Huron Dp 6:15A 5:45A
The Amtrak Train Names Project