ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɪks, ðə mˈɪʃɪɡən dᵻpˈɑːɹtmənt ʌv tɹænspoːɹtˈeɪʃən ɪnˈɪʃɪˌeɪɾᵻd ðə mˈɪʃɪɡən nˈɔːɹðɚn ɹˈeɪlweɪ, wˌɪtʃ ˈɑːpɚɹˌeɪɾᵻd pˈæsɪndʒɚ sˈɜːvɪs fɹʌm ɡɹˈænd ɹˈæpɪdz tə mˈækɪnˌɔː sˈɪɾi ʌntˈɪl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks.
In 1976, the Michigan Department of Transportation initiated the Michigan Northern Railway, which operated passenger service from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw City until 1986.