Amtrak Blue Water
Amtrak Blue Water

The Amtrak Blue Water: A New Passenger’s Guide

The Amtrak Blue Water is a daily train between Chicago, IL, and Port Huron, MI, with nine intermediate stops. This train is part of the Amtrak Midwest Corridor and has popular stops, including Chicago, Kalamazoo, East Lansing, and Port Huron.

A quick overview of the Amtrak Blue Water

Here is a quick look at this train:

The interior of an Amtrak coach car.
The interior of an Amtrak coach car.

Amtrak Blue Water Accommodations

The Amtrak Blue Water offers several seating options, including a quiet car. You can book this train through Amtrak’s website, app, staffed stations, ticket machines or by calling 1-800-USA-Rail.

Blue Water Coach class

Amtrak Venture Coach Seats
Amtrak Venture Coach Seats

Here are some highlights of Amtrak Blue Water:

  • A fold-down tray
  • Individual reading lights
  • Overhead luggage racks
  • Some cars have tables, but not all.
  • You may be assigned a particular coach car but not a seat when boarding.
  • 120v electric outlets on the wall
    • Newer cars have USB chargers and outlets between the two seats.

Business class

The Amtrak Blue Water also offers business class, which includes extra legroom, a comfortable seat, and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages. Plus, you are closer to the cafe car. At Chicago Union, you can use the lounge for a fee.

Additionally, Business Class customers receive a 25% bonus on Amtrak Guest Rewards points.

Amtrak Quiet Car

The Amtrak Blue Water has a quiet car open to all coach passengers on a first-come, first-served basis, with no additional ticketing. There are some rules for these cars to maintain the peace. If you are unsure where the Quit car is, ask the conductor, but it is often on the opposite end of the train from the cafe car.

Luggage on the Amtrak Blue Water

The Blue Water does not offer a checked bag service.

Each passenger may carry on:

  • One personal item, 25 lbs. (12 kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches, and 
  • Two carry-on pieces of luggage, 50 lbs. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each
  • If you transfer to the Pacific Surfliner at some point along your journey, the baggage size for that train is up to 28 x 22 x 11 inches each. 

Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage; check out Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.

Amtrak Blue Water add-ons

Here are a few things you can add to your reservations for a fee, but keep in mind space can be limited.

Bringing your bike

  • You can bring a standard bicycle.
  • Max weight of 50 pounds.
  • The maximum tire width is 2″.
  • Bike service may not be available at all stations.

Check out Amtrak’s bike policy before booking your bike on this train.

Bring your golf clubs.

Bring your golf clubs in an enclosed, securely fastened, and full-length cover (vinyl, cloth, nylon, or hard-sided case) no larger than 72 inches and 50 lbs. Golf bag carts must be detached and checked separately.

Bringing our pet

  • Amtrak allows dogs and cats
  • Up to 20 pounds or less, including the carrier.
  • Spaces can be limited.
  • You need to add your pet to your reservation.
    • After completing your reservation, you will receive the necessary paperwork, which you can find in the My Trip section.
  • Before booking, look at Amtrak’s pet policy and print out the documentation.

If you have a service or comfort animal, read the Amtrak service animal policy before booking to ensure your critter qualifies and for booking instructions.

Amtrak Wi-Fi

Blue Water provides free Amtrak Wi-Fi. This service is intended for emailing and web browsing and may not allow streaming.

Food on the Amtrak Blue Water

Lunch from the cafe car
Amtrak cafe attendants use cardboard trays to make transporting your food convenient.
  • The Blue Water cafe car offers:
    • A variety of hot and cold meals
    • Snacks
    • Plus, hot, cold, and adult beverages
    • Open to all passengers throughout most of the journey.
  • The cafe car is toward one end of the train, the end of which depends on the direction.
  • This car often contains the business class or is between the business class and the coach class.

Conductors and the cafe staff will announce the location of the cafe car along the journey.

You may bring food and drink aboard the train, but you cannot consume alcohol on the train you brought aboard.

Amtrak Blue Water Schedule

If there are two times, the first is the arrival, the second is the departure, and if there is only one, it is a quick stop. Click on the stations to see the services offered at that stop.

364 EastboundStation StopMiles365 Westbound
Read DownDaily TrainLast Stop
4:00pChicago, IL
Union Station (CHI) CT
011:45a
Time Zone Change
6:10pNew Buffalo, MI (NBU) ET6211:24a
6:32pNiles, MI (NLS)8911:04a
6:43pDowagiac, MI (DOA)10210:52a
7:11pKalamazoo, MI (KAL)13810:26a
7:38pBattle Creek, MI (BTL)16010:00a
9:00pEast Lansing, MI (LNS)2088:54a
9:37pDurand, MI (DRD)2388:08a
10:08pFlint, MI (FLN)2567:35a
10:34pLapeer, MI (LPE)2747:08a
11:31pPort Huron, MI (PTH) ET3196:20a
Last StopStationsMilesRead Up
CT = Central Timezone ET = Eastern TImezone

Use this timetable as a guide; check with Amtrak or your eticket for exact times. The information for these guides comes from Amtrak, and Amtrak can change them anytime.

Printable Amtrak Blue Water Schedule

Feel free to print out or download the PDF using the button below. You can print route schedules from Amtrak.com, including custom schedules with other Amtrak transportation. Learn how to print Amtrak schedules.

An alternative to the Blue Water: Amtrak Wolverine

Depending on where you need to go, the Amtrak Wolverine duplicates most of the stops of the Blue Water between Chicago, IL, and Battle Creek, MI. If you need one of the intermediate stops, check out the Wolverine’s schedule to see if it is a good alternative.

Safe Travels,

Kev

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Kevin Monteith

Kev Monteith has been traveling on Amtrak since 2012. With over a decade of experience, he has been on over 800 trains, covering over 200k miles of rail. Kev enjoys helping others achieve their travel dreams by providing support and information. Outside of travel, Kev enjoys making music as an organist and outings with family.

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