Don Saunders, Amtrak Central Division General Superintendent, joined city, state and federal officials to cut the ribbon to reopen the renovated and expanded station that was first opened by the Pere Marquette Railroad almost 79 years ago.

"This is a great 'front door' to serve passengers at Bangor," Saunders said. "The number of passengers on the Pere Marquette route keeps growing: after two consecutive record-breaking years -- totaling nearly 88,000 last year -- we are up by nearly 13 percent so far this year."

Bangor has a population of 1,933 and is served by what Passenger Train Journal magazine called "one of the nation's loveliest short-distance trains." Amtrak operates the Pere Marquette daily to and from Chicago on tracks owned by CSX Transportation via Grand Rapids, Holland, Bangor, St. Joseph-Benton Harbor and New Buffalo, Mich. Service by the Pere Marquette is financed in part by funds made available by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

CSX Transportation is the successor to the Pere Marquette Railroad and has leased the station's platform to Amtrak for improvement by the City of Bangor. Last year, MDOT granted $125,000 to rebuild the waiting room and platform. Amtrak contributed engineering services and the balance of $500,000 project was carried out with private and city funds.

"Amtrak service in Bangor is important to the community and our revitalization," said Bangor City Manager Larry Nielsen. "Turning this former eyesore into a beautiful station has meant a lot to the spirit of the community."

About Bangor (from the city's http://ci.bangor.mi.us website):

On October 9, 1853, the Van Buren County Board of Supervisors voted to organize the township and give it the name of "Marion." The name was so unpopular with local residents that the board of supervisors voted five days later to call the township "Bangor." The name was chosen because a member of the board of supervisors had been a resident of Bangor, Maine.

The area became incorporated as the Village of Bangor in 1877 and officially became the City of Bangor on February 5, 1968.

Bangor is in the heart of pickle, blueberry and apple country. The 1,000 gallon green tanks seen along the tracks are actually production vats for the Freestone Pickle Company, which has been in operation in Bangor for more than 100 years. Quaint shops and sites can be found in downtown Bangor. The annual lighted Christmas Parade (1st Saturday in December) was the first in Van Buren County and remains a highlight of the holiday season. The annual Apple Festival (October) offers fun, crafts, cars, a carnival and apples for the whole family. Bangor is located on the southern branch of the Black River, 25 miles east of Kalamazoo and 10 miles west of South Haven.

Bangor Station History (from Louis Van Winkle's http://user.mc.net/~louisvw/depot website):

The Bangor station was built by Louis Janoskie, a local contractor, to replace an earlier wooden station that burned. The new brick structure was completed in June of 1926, for a cost to the Pere Marquette Railroad of $30,000.

Beginning in 1984, the depot served as both a passenger station and as the home of the Kalamazoo Toy Train Works. Because of the toys manufactured in the station and its Amtrak service, Bangor became known as ?Train City USA?. Following the termination of manufacturing in 1991, the station had the dubious distinction of being number on the Great American Station Foundation`s 1998 list of the ?Top 10 Most Endangered Stations in America."

The City of Bangor bought the station from CSX Transportation in November 2001 and the building was purchased last year by Beacon Living Services, a healthcare services provider. The empty attic of the station was replaced by a second floor, doubling the floor space.

Nearly 2,700 Amtrak passengers were ticketed to or from Bangor last year, using a three-sided acrylic shelter while the station's waiting area was closed for renovation. Also in 2004, Amtrak, MDOT and the WESTRAIN coalition celebrated 20 years of Pere Marquette service.

About Amtrak:

The westbound Pere Marquette (train 371) departs Grand Rapids daily at 7:35 a.m. ET, departs Bangor at 8:59 a.m. ET, and arrives in Chicago at 10:30 a.m. CT. The eastbound Pere Marquette (train 370) departs Chicago at 5:20 p.m. CT, departs Bangor at 8:42 p.m. ET, and arrives in Grand Rapids at 10:21 p.m. ET. Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 22,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com.