Pere Marquette (Amtrak train)

The Pere Marquette is a passenger train operated by Amtrak, providing daily service between Chicago, Illinois, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Named after the French Jesuit missionary and explorer Jacques Marquette, it is one of three Amtrak routes serving Michigan, the others being the Wolverine and Blue Water.

The route offers connections to other Amtrak services in Chicago, allowing passengers to travel to destinations throughout the United States. The Pere Marquette primarily serves communities in western Michigan, offering a convenient transportation option for both business and leisure travelers.

Service on this route began on August 5, 1984. Prior to Amtrak, the Pere Marquette was a named train operated by the Pere Marquette Railway, which later became part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. Amtrak revived the name, continuing the tradition of providing passenger rail service along this corridor.

The train typically consists of Amfleet I and Amfleet II passenger cars, as well as a Horizon Fleet food service car (Cafe Car), and is usually pulled by a General Electric P42DC locomotive. The Pere Marquette offers coach seating and limited food and beverage service.

The Pere Marquette is generally considered a regional Amtrak route, providing a vital link between Chicago and western Michigan, contributing to the transportation infrastructure and economic development of the region.