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March 14, 2019

Amtrak MidwestSM trains for Tulip Time, sponsored by MDOT

Special Saturday trains on May 4 & 11 will be escorted by local experts

CHICAGO and LANSING, Mich. – See five million blooming tulips — not brake lights and toll booths — this May 4 and 11 when Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) offer additional service between Chicago and Holland, Mich., for Holland’s annual Tulip Time Festival.

These trains on the daily Pere Marquette route, sponsored by MDOT, will run on two Saturdays during the festival and enable same-day visits to what has been heralded as the nation’s “Best Flower Festival” and “America’s Best Small-Town Festival.” More than 1,000 customers rode Amtrak trains on this route during these weekends last May.

Train 374 will depart from Chicago at 7:05 a.m., Hammond-Whiting, Ind., at 7:29 a.m. (both times Central), St. Joseph at 10:01 a.m., Bangor at 10:37 a.m., and arrive in Holland at 11:28 a.m. (all Michigan times Eastern). Train 375 leaves Holland at 5:50 p.m., Bangor at 6:33 p.m., St. Joseph at 7:11 p.m., Hammond-Whiting at 7:51 p.m. and arrives in Chicago at 8:24 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased via Amtrak.com, our mobile apps, or by calling 800-USA-RAIL. On Train 374 will be representatives from the Holland Area Visitors Bureau, who can assist with expert local information. Parking at the Amtrak Hammond-Whiting station is free of charge.

Book now for best availability and pricing. Adult fares on the Amtrak MidwestSM trains on those Saturdays range from $26-$53 each way to and from Holland. Children ages 2-12 are half-fare with each adult. The Pere Marquette also provides daily service from Chicago to Holland for travel during the nine-day festival, and all Pere Marquette trains will stop at Hammond-Whiting on May 4 & 5 and May 11 & 12. The Michigan page on Amtrak.com has more information.

In addition to the millions of tulips, on Saturday, May 4, Tulip Time visitors can experience Tulip City Tours, Windmill Island Gardens, an artisan market, a quilt show, Dutch dance performances, Tall Ship Dockside Tours, and shopping in Downtown Holland. On Saturday, May 11, enjoy the Dutch Marktplaats, the Tall Ship Dockside Tours, Windmill Island Gardens, more shopping, and the Muziekparade, the largest parade of the week.

Information on shuttle services from the Holland station and best ways to get around town on specific dates, along with the times and locations of all events are in this guide, by calling the Holland Area Visitors Bureau at 800-506-1299, or by visiting Holland.org.

For More Information

Marc Magliari
MediaRelationsChicago@Amtrak.com
Amtrak Contact
312 544.5390

Michael Frezell
FrezellM@Michigan.gov
Michigan Department of Transportation
517 281.6519

About Amtrak®

Amtrak offers a more comfortable and convenient travel experience with free Wi-Fi on most trains, plenty of leg room and no middle seat. With our state and commuter partners, we move people, the economy and the nation forward, carrying more than 30 million Amtrak customers for each of the past eight years. Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily, connecting more than 500 destinations in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces, and reaches 400 additional destinations via connecting bus routes. Book travel, check train status, access your eTicket and more through the Amtrak app. Learn more at Amtrak.com.

About MDOT

Working with our partners at airports, bus systems, marine and rail to find innovative solutions for Michigan’s transportation systems. For more, visit michigan.gov/drive, twitter.com/MDOT_Rail, or facebook.com/MichiganDOT.

About Tulip Time

Holland is “painting the town orange” in celebration of Tulip Time’s 90th anniversary in 2019! Millions of people have gathered to participate in Holland’s Tulip Time Festival. Drawing more than 500,000 people annually, Tulip Time offers a nine-day experience of the town and its traditions. With over 5 million tulips blooming throughout the city and hundreds of klompen dancers, Tulip Time has been heralded as the nation’s Best Flower Festival and America’s Best Small Town Festival. From Dutch traditional garb and dance to nationally renowned entertainment, Tulip Time celebrates both culture and community. The festival offers parades, carnival rides, wooden shoes, elephant ears, fireworks and tulips. For more information, visit Tuliptime.com.