Wolverine — Schedules, Fares & Stops

The Wolverine connects Chicago, IL and Pontiac, MI over a 304-mile route operated by Amtrak (MDOT), calling at 12 stations across 3 states.

Quick Facts

Operator: Amtrak (MDOT)
Service type: State-Supported Corridor
Endpoints: Chicago ↔ Pontiac
Distance: 304 mi
Frequency: Three daily round trips
Stations: 12
States served: 3 (IL, IN, MI)
Typical fare range: $27 – $58

Route guide

The Wolverine is a state-supported corridor service operated by Amtrak (MDOT). Trains run Three daily round trips over 304 miles of mainline track between Chicago Union Station and Pontiac, MI, calling at 12 intermediate and terminal stations across 3 states. For background reading on the corridor, several archival route histories are available alongside the operator's own marketing pages.

What to watch for: Michigan inland country between Jackson and Battle Creek; the Detroit skyline approach.

History & service notes

Track between Kalamazoo and Dearborn is owned by Amtrak — one of the few segments outside the Northeast Corridor where Amtrak owns the rails. 110-mph running is in place. Riders interested in pre-Amtrak operating history of the line can consult classic timetable archives for fuller context.

Equipment

Typical consist on the Wolverine includes horizon and Amfleet I cars with Charger SC-44. Equipment assignments may vary by departure and season; consult the operator for the most current information.

Stops along the route

Stations are listed in geographical order from Chicago to Pontiac. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.

Chicago Union Station — Chicago, IL CHI
Hammond–Whiting — Hammond, IN HMI
St. Joseph–Benton Harbor — St. Joseph, MI STJ
Kalamazoo — Kalamazoo, MI KAL
Battle Creek — Battle Creek, MI BTL
Jackson, MI — Jackson, MI JXN
Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, MI ARB
Dearborn — Dearborn, MI DER
Detroit — Detroit, MI DET
Royal Oak — Royal Oak, MI ROY
Troy — Troy, MI TRM
Pontiac, MI — Pontiac, MI PNT

Sample fares & travel times

Approximate one-way fare ranges and travel times for popular city pairs on this route. Fares vary widely by demand, time of booking, and class of service — these figures are reference midpoints suitable for planning, not booking. Click any pair for a fuller trip guide.

From	To	Distance	Time	Fare
Chicago	Hammond	28 mi	44m	$12 – $26
Hammond	St. Joseph	28 mi	44m	$12 – $26
St. Joseph	Kalamazoo	28 mi	44m	$12 – $26
Kalamazoo	Battle Creek	28 mi	44m	$12 – $26
Battle Creek	Jackson	28 mi	44m	$12 – $26
Jackson	Ann Arbor	28 mi	44m	$12 – $26
Ann Arbor	Dearborn	28 mi	44m	$12 – $26
Dearborn	Detroit	28 mi	44m	$12 – $26
Detroit	Royal Oak	28 mi	44m	$12 – $26
Royal Oak	Troy	28 mi	44m	$12 – $26
Troy	Pontiac	28 mi	44m	$12 – $26
Hammond	Pontiac	276 mi	5h 41m	$26 – $55
Chicago	St. Joseph	55 mi	1h 16m	$14 – $30
St. Joseph	Pontiac	249 mi	5h 9m	$24 – $52
Chicago	Kalamazoo	83 mi	1h 50m	$15 – $33
Kalamazoo	Pontiac	221 mi	4h 35m	$23 – $49
Chicago	Battle Creek	111 mi	2h 23m	$17 – $36
Battle Creek	Pontiac	193 mi	4h 2m	$21 – $45

Connections & transfers

Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From Chicago, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at Pontiac. The corridor passes through cities including Chicago, Hammond, and Pontiac, each with its own onward service map. A useful reference for cross-network connections is the consolidated national rail connection guide, updated each timetable change.

Trip planning tip. The Wolverine's lowest fares typically appear when booked 14 days or more in advance, and on midweek departures. Same-day "walk-up" fares are usually closer to the upper end of the range shown. Saver and Value buckets sell out first.