The rebirth of Michigan Central.

Decades ago, Michigan Central Station was the busiest and largest railway station. It is located in Detroit, once the former capital of the US automotive industry. Once upon a time, tens of thousands of workers, immigrants and travelers crowded into a huge lobby, waiting for their flights. But for 30 years now, Michigan Central has been abandoned, as has Detroit. Its central tower, like the ruins of an ancient fortress, has turned into a vivid symbol of the decline of a once rich city.

The Revival of Michigan Central Station

In 2018, the station building was bought by Ford. As a train station, it will no longer function, it will now become the center of new developments of the company. The Corktown area, where Michigan Central is located, has also undergone positive transformations.

The reconstruction process is led by Richard Bardelli, head of construction at Ford. According to him, for many years he dreamed of creating a project that would help the station find a second life. He carefully preserved the original design and decoration of the building. First of all, the abandoned premises were cleaned of mold and dried. Then they replaced all the fallen bricks from the masonry, replaced the beams, rotten window frames, inserted glass and engaged in the restoration of walls and ceilings.

The station can truly be called a work of architectural art - the ceiling in the main hall is made in the style of "Gustavino tiles" - many small tiles with different ornaments are placed on the ceiling in any order. All these characteristic features will be preserved so that in the future tourists can see the station as majestic as in the heyday of Detroit.

Tourist application

Although the restoration work has not yet been completed, the station building still remains an architectural monument, so it attracts many people who come to Detroit sometimes just to look at it.

So, before you get to the train station, you need to get to Detroit. There are no direct flights from Moscow. The airlines Air France and KLM have flights with one stopover in Paris (Charles de Gaulle) and Amsterdam (Schiphol). You will spend about 13 hours on the way, if you do not delay the transfer to another plane. Aeroflot offers to get to the city with two transfers, it is cheaper, but you will have to wait about a day or more for a transfer.

You will arrive at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, where you can choose how to get to the train station - taxi or bus. Buses go there every hour, the most convenient route is 261, because its final stop is literally 100 meters from the Central Station.

A taxi is more convenient, it will take you to the entrance, but it costs much more than a bus ticket, about $ 50 one way.

Detroit Public Transportation

"Motor City" was originally built as an automobile capital, so the roads here are wide and convenient, the city taxi service is still functioning. It is recommended to use it, because Detroit is a rather unsafe place, do not get into private cabs.

Public transport is also available, but it does not shine with variety. There is a metro, but the route consists of 13 stations, only 5 km. This is more entertainment for tourists than a real way to get somewhere. State buses can be recognized by the MDOT logo, they can be used to move around the city. SMART buses stop at stops near the train station and run along popular tourist routes. In 2017, the QLine high-speed tram was launched, which runs from Grand Blvd to Congress Street.

An alternative way to get around the city is by bicycle. Rental locations can be found throughout downtown and even beyond. But follow the main rule - do not leave your group and do not drive into dark and deserted alleys, safety is above all.

Car rental is the most popular and safest way to explore the surrounding area and get to the train station unharmed. Representatives of rental companies stand with signs, there are even such popular ones as: Payless, Thrifty, National, Enterprise, Executive. Their tariffs are standard, gasoline prices are low, so there are a lot of rental customers. There are no traffic jams in the city, the roads are mostly in good condition, so it's a pleasure to ride by car. The police almost do not watch the road, but this does not mean that it is necessary to violate the rules of the road, there is no need to arrange chaos on the road.

Where to stay in Detroit

There are practically no budget places, even a simple bed in a hostel costs from $ 40 per night. Hotels and motels ask even more - from $ 300 per night. But the conditions are quite decent - clean rooms, breakfast is included in the price, good service. Also in the hotels there are guides whose services you can use and explore not only the famous train station, but also other attractions.

Interesting facts about Central Station

• It opened in 1923 in December without any special events and immediately began its work.
• The station is designed in the architectural style of "Bozar" - a mixture of French Baroque and Italian Renaissance.
• Two of the 18 tracks survived until 2020. They are still used by freight trains to Canada through the tunnel.
• During the Second World War, hundreds of soldiers left the station every day.
• During the operation of the station, the population of Detroit has grown 30 times.
In 1988, the last train left the station, and since then passenger flights have been canceled.
• After the reconstruction of the station building began, people began to bring things that they had once taken away. One man, who wished to remain anonymous, returned a huge clock that hung at the entrance to the platform.
• Periodically, the station flashes in movies and music videos. The station can be seen in Eminem's music video and in the movie "8 Mile". Also at the station, the main battle of Superman and Batman in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice unfolded. And the views of Detroit can be appreciated in the movie "Only lovers will survive". Even being abandoned, the station contributes to pop culture.
The waiting room was built in the style of ancient Roman baths.

If you decide to visit the Detroit Train Station, then follow all safety rules as carefully as possible. Undoubtedly, the city is coming to life again, large companies are again interested in buying buildings and land plots, but still rampant crime still exists. There are almost no policemen on the streets, homeless people, drug addicts and other marginals live in abandoned houses, so do not stray far from your group. Plan your route in advance, find trusted guides, then your trip will pass without incident and you will enjoy the charm of this abandoned and industrial city.