I'm not sure a shuttle between Detroit and Toledo wouldn't work considering there are several existing routes that pass through Toledo passengers can transfer to, and another one to Columbus planned. If for some reason the train must continue further, Detroit > Toledo > Cleveland > Pittsburgh > Philadelphia > New York [[etc.) is one possibility. Detroit > Toledo > Cleveland > Pittsburgh > D.C. [[etc.) is another. And passengers could transfer at Pittsburgh to the other destination. Or there is the Lakeshore Limited for an alternate route to NYC via Buffalo and upstate. The tracks are already there, serving routes from Chicago. The only missing piece is Detroit > Toledo.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Amtrak_routes
Unlike a shuttle, at least in the beginning, ridership on a longer route probably wouldn't warrant more than daily service, perhaps alternating between routes to New York and D.C.. That wouldn't work for airport customers. But air trains could share the same tracks.
Building / rehabilitating the spur and running the service would undoubtedly cost much more than ticket revenue could ever support. But massive government investment built and supports our highway system and no one expects it to pay for itself. Imagine if we charged drivers usage fees enough to recoup that investment. On the contrary, we take for granted we drive our roadways for free. I never understood the double standard. Both road and rail are needed. Their benefits are to the wider economy.
That said BRT between Detroit and Toledo is certainly a cheaper solution, and more viable in the short term. But it's a shame the only rail option from Detroit is to Chicago. And that the route to Chicago is so infrequent and slow. Rail service most places in this country is of such poor availability, speed, and frequency no wonder more people don't use it. And tickets are expensive. It's rarely a practical option. We need to do something about that double standard.
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