Michigan Railroads (Michigan)

Last Updated: February 24, 2024, 6:54 pm

 With the introduction of the FCC narrowbanding requirements in 2013, the American Association of Railroads AAR) has officially adopted the NXDN digital standard for future endeavours.  As a result, in the coming years many railroads will begin the migration to this mode, primarily for secondary operations.  The common road channels will likely remain analog for sometime to come; however, these analog frequencies have also become subject of the FCC narrowbanding mandate in order to make room for the additional channels required for digital operations.  The original AAR channels 07-97 have been converted from analog FM 15.0 kHz channel spacing to narrowband analog FM (a.k.a. NFM) 7.5 kHz channel spacing and renamed the channels to 007-097.  This change allowed for the creation of AAR channels 107-197, which also share the 7.5 kHz channel spacing and AAR channels 307-497, which are 6.25 kHz spacing.  Both groups of channels fit in between the original AAR channels of 007-097.  AAR channels 107-197 can be utilized for either analog or digital operations whereas AAR channels 307-497 are digital only operations; however, the AAR has recommended that railroads continue to utilize AAR channels 007-097 in analog for common road operation and to not utilize channels 107-197 and rather migrate directly to using the newer NXDN digital format on channels 307-487 for secondary operations.  AAR has also set the standard NXDN digital operation mode to what is known as "NXDN-VN" or "Very Narrow" or "NXDN 4800" using the 6.25 kHz spacing. 

 
(Note: there are two bandwidth options within the NXDN digital mode, "NXDN-N" or "Narrow" requires a 12.5 kHz channel spacing and is also referred to as "NXDN 9600" as this is the data bandwidth the channel can support.  "NXDN-VN" or "Very Narrow" which is 6.25 kHz channel spacing is also referred to as "NXDN 4800" as this is the data bandwidth the channel can support.)  
 
With these future plans in mind there are only a few receivers currently available on the market which can properly receive and decode the NXDN digital mode.  The recommended receivers in order of highest performance are as follows: ICOM IC-R30 and IC-R8600, Whistler TRX-1 and TRX-2,  Uniden SDS100, SDS200, BCD436HP and BCD536HP, AOR DV-1 and DV-10.
 

Frequencies

Statewide

Railroad Police Mutual Aid
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
161.205 BM AAR 073 RR Police Mutual Aid FMN Law Talk

Amtrak

Areawide
Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
Project 25 Phase II
Amtrak Police use this system for their primary communications.
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.365 BM AAR 017 Police FMN Law Talk
160.815WPTU629 M AAR 047 Maintenance - Kalamazoo to Chicago FMN Transportation
160.920 BM AAR 054 Operations FMN Transportation
Michigan Line - Road
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.800 BM AAR 046 Road - Detroit to Kalamazoo FMN Transportation
161.325KSQ287 RM AAR 81/39 Road - Kalamazoo to Chicago FMN Transportation
161.505WQTC230 BM AAR 093 Road - Detroit to Kalamazoo FMN Transportation
Detroit North
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.590 BM AAR 032 Pontiac to Royal Oak FMN Railroad
160.800 BM AAR 046 Royal Oak to Detroit FMN Railroad
Michigan Line - Detroit Terminal
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
161.475WPTX377 RM AAR 91/17 General Operations FMN Transportation

Canadian National Railway

Systemwide
Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
Project 25 Phase II
CN Police use the the MPSCS, as their primary communications system.
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.440 BM AAR 022 Police - Port Huron-to-South Bend line FMN Railroad
160.470 BM AAR 024 Police - Secondary [Primary Ops on the MPSCS TRS] FMN Railroad
161.280 BM AAR 078 Police - Tactical FMN Railroad
Road/Dispatcher
Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
Project 25 Phase II
CN Police use the the MPSCS, as their primary communications system.
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.590 BM AAR 032 Road - Primary (Ex-GTW Lines) FMN Railroad
160.530 BM AAR 028 Durand-Detroit Line Dispatcher - Desk 9 FMN Railroad
161.220 BM AAR 074 Port Huron-Battle Creek Line Dispatcher - Desk 8 FMN Railroad
160.920 BM AAR 054 Road - Detroit-to-Toledo "Shoreline" FMN Railroad
Battle Creek Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.260 BM AAR 010 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
160.845 BM AAR 049 West Tower FMN Railroad
Flat Rock Yard

Former Detroit, Toledo & Ironton

FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.095WQOP344 BM CN Flat Rock TTX CN Flat Rock - TTX Co. Railcars DMR Railroad
161.385 BM AAR 085 PBX - Private Branch Exchange (Phone Calls) FMN Railroad
Moterm Yard (Ferndale, MI)
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.350WZY317 BM AAR 016 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
Pontiac Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.305 BM AAR 013 Yard Operations [Amtrak] FMN Railroad
160.755 BM AAR 043 Police FMN Railroad
160.815 BM AAR 047 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
160.920 BM AAR 054 PBX (Private Branch Exchange) - Phone Calls FMN Railroad
Wisconsin Central

 Wisconsin Central is a subsidiary of Canadian National

FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.260WQAR975 BM AAR 010 Switching/Yard FMN Railroad
160.335WQAR975 BM AAR 015 Road - Sault Ste. Marie west line FMN Railroad
160.785WQAR975 BM AAR 045 Police FMN Railroad
161.295WQAR975 BM AAR 079 Police Tactical FMN Railroad

Canadian Pacific Railway

CPR Areawide
Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
Project 25 Phase II
The Canadian Pacific Police, use this system for wide-area communications.
Windsor Subdivision - Road
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
161.370 BM AAR 084 Road - Primary FMN Railroad
161.085 BM AAR 065 Road - Secondary FMN Railroad
Windsor Subdivision - Detroit Terminal Area
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
161.055KC9264 M AAR 063 Wayne Yard FMN Railroad
161.280KC9264 M AAR 078 Wayne Yard FMN Railroad
161.400KC9264 M AAR 086 Wayne Yard FMN Railroad

CSX Transportation

Chicago Division - Systemwide
Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
Project 25 Phase II
CSXT Police use the MPSCS for long-range communications, and interoperability purposes.
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.545KFA865 BM AAR 029 Police - Tactical FMN Railroad
160.785WPRG339 BM AAR 045 Signal Maintenance FMN Railroad
160.875KFA865 BM AAR 051 Police - Primary FMN Railroad
Chicago Division - Road
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.230KAX303 BM AAR 008 Road - Primary FMN Railroad
160.635WNCR615 BM AAR 035 RL Dispatcher FMN Railroad
160.920 BM AAR 054 Dispatcher - Future Use FMN Railroad
160.980 BM AAR 058 Dispatcher - Future Use FMN Railroad
161.100 BM AAR 066 Dispatcher - Future Use FMN Railroad
161.370WQVQ364 BM AAR 084 RN Dispatcher - Detroit-to-Grand Rapids/Saginaw-to-Plymouth FMN Railroad
161.520 BM AAR 094 Dispatcher - Future Use FMN Railroad
Chicago Division - Detroit Terminal
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.290KKD425 BM AAR 012 Dean/Rougemere/Wayne Yards FMN Railroad
160.695KKD425 BM AAR 039 Dean/Rougemere/Wayne Yards FMN Railroad
452.900WPEH393 RM RougemreRail Rougemere Yard - Detroit/Wyoming Yard GRR FMN Railroad
452.925WPEH393 RM Rouge Yard Rougemere Yard - Detroit FMN Railroad
452.950WPEH393 RM RougmereYard Rougemere Yard - Detroit FMN Railroad
461.8125WPEK534 M Police Police - Rougemere Yard area NXDN Railroad
463.4625WPEK534 M Police Police - Rougemere Yard area NXDN Railroad
467.8625WPEK534 M Rouge PD Police - Rougemere Yard area NXDN Railroad
468.2625WPEK534 M Rouge Police Police - Rougemere Yard area NXDN Railroad
Chicago Division - Grand Rapids Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
452.9125WQAS337 RM Yard OPS Yard - Grand Rapids FMN Railroad
Chicago Division - Plymouth Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.395WPPU446 BM AAR 019 Plymouth Yard FMN Railroad
161.160KAX303 BM AAR 070 Plymouth Yard FMN Railroad
Chicago Division - Wixom Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.905KOL932 BM AAR 053 Yard Operations FMN Railroad

Conrail

Conrail - Road
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.800KFF797 BM AAR 046 Dispatcher - North Yard to Sterling Yard FMN Railroad
161.070KFF797 BM AAR 064 Dispatcher - CP Townline to CP Bay City Jct/CP-YD to CP North Yard. FMN Railroad
161.325 BM AAR 081 Crew Cabs FMN Railroad
Conrail - Livernois Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.830 RM AAR 389/xxx Yard Repeater (patch to AAR 066) NXDN Railroad
161.100 BM AAR 066 Yard Hump FMN Railroad
Conrail - North Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.980KFF797 BM AAR 058 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
Conrail - River Rouge Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.5075 RM AAR 346/473 Yard Repeater (patch to AAR 050) NXDN Railroad
160.860 BM AAR 050 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
Conrail - Sterling Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.5075 RM AAR 346/482 Yard Repeater (patch to AAR 058) NXDN Railroad

Lake State Railway

Lake State Railway
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
159.540WRBT246 RM CC 1
TG 20
SL 1
Digital 1 Digital 1 DMR Railroad
160.020WRBT246 RM CC 1
TG 21
SL 1
Digital 2 Digital 2 DMR Railroad
160.110WRBT246 RM CC 1
TG 22
SL 1
Digital 3 Digital 3 DMR Railroad
160.170WRBT246 RM CC 1
TG 23
SL 1
Digital 4 Digital 4 DMR Railroad
160.260WQEB592 BM AAR 010 Road FMN Railroad
161.310WPEN914 BM AAR 080 Road FMN Railroad
Alpena Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
154.505WQRS530 RM CC 1
TG 2
SL 2
Lake State Event Lake State Event DMR Railroad
161.280WPEN914 BM AAR 078 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
East Tawas Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.350WPEN914 BM AAR 016 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
160.740WQRS530 RM CC 1
TG 2
SL 2
Lake State Event Lake State Event DMR Railroad
Flint Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.980WQEB592 BM Flint Yard Flint Yard FMN Railroad
Roscommon Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
153.065WQRS530 RM CC 1
TG 2
SL 2
Lake State Event Lake State Event DMR Railroad
Saginaw Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.650WPEN914 RM AAR 036/092 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
160.710WQRS530 RM CC 1
TG 1
SL 1
LSR Saginaw Road Lake State Road DMR Railroad
160.710WQRS530 RM CC 1
TG 2
SL 2
Lake State Event Lake State Event DMR Railroad
160.980WQEB592 BM AAR 058 Yard Operations FMN Railroad

Lake Superior and Ishpeming

Lake Superior and Ishpeming
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
153.545WQSV989 M CC 5
TG 21
SL 1
Yard Ops Yard, Line & Maintenance DMR Railroad
160.230WQSV989 BM AAR 008 Road FMN Railroad
160.950WQSV989 BM AAR 056 Maintenance FMN Railroad
161.490WQSV989 BM AAR 092 Yard FMN Railroad
462.2375WQCU978 M LocmotiveSys Locomotive System FMN Railroad
462.2875WQCU978 M Locomotive Locomotive System FMN Railroad
462.3125WQCU978 M LocomotieSys Locomotive System FMN Railroad
462.3625WQCU978 M Railroads Locomotive System FMN Railroad
467.3625WQCU978 M Locomotive Locomotive System FMN Railroad

Norfolk Southern

Areawide
Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
Project 25 Phase II
This radio system is used by NS police officers for communications across the state, and with local emergency first responders.
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.305WNKX351 BM AAR 013 Police - Car-to-Car FMN Railroad
160.560KNF858 BM AAR 030 Police - Dearborn Dispatcher NXDN Railroad
161.280WNKX351 BM AAR 078 Police FMN Railroad
Dearborn Division - Road
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.515KNF858 BM AAR 027 Road - Detroit to Toledo line FMN Railroad
160.800WNWQ404 BM AAR 046 Road (ex-Michigan Central) - Detroit to Elkhart FMN Railroad
161.055WQCB533 BM AAR 062 Road (ex-New York Central) - Detroit to Toledo line FMN Railroad
161.115WNWQ404 BM AAR 067 Road (ex-Michigan Central) - Ann Arbor to Elkhart FMN Railroad
Dearborn Division - Monroe Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.860KEO860 BM AAR 050 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
Dearborn Division - Wayne Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.980KEO860 BM AAR 058 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
160.860KEO860 BM CSQ AAR 050 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
Dearborn Division - Jackson Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
161.520WQIV892 BM AAR 094 Yard Operations FMN Railroad
Lake Division - Road
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.380KVI456 BM AAR 018 Road and Train>Dispatcher (ex-Wabash) - Oakwood to Montpelier FMN Railroad
160.440WNGV325 BM AAR 022 Road - Delray Jct-to-Oakwood FMN Railroad
161.475WQIV892 B AAR 091 Dispatcher>Train - Oakwood to Montpelier FMN Railroad
Lake Division - Melvindale Yard
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.620WPCJ479 BM AAR 034 Yard Operations FMN Railroad

Shortline Railroads

Adrian & Blissfield

  This is the new NEXEDGE TRS used by the Adrian and Blissfield Railroad Company that is currently being constructed. Long-term plans call for this digital radio system to be expanded to other railroad lines they operate in the state of Michigan: 

  • Lapeer Industrial Railroad
  • Charlotte Southern Railroad
  • Detroit Connecting Railroad
  • Jackson & Lansing Railroad
  • Tecumseh Branch Connecting Railroad
Adrian and Blissfield Railroad Company
NXDN NEXEDGE 4800
The Adrian and Blissfield Rail Road Company, will be using this trunking system for their primary communications system.
Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
Project 25 Phase II
This radio system is used by railroad police officers for communications across the state, and with local emergency first responders.
Ann Arbor Railroad
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
161.355KSU555 BM AAR 083 Switching FMN Railroad
161.445KSU555 BM AAR 089 Switching FMN Railroad
161.490KSU555 BM AAR 092 Road - Primary Ops FMN Railroad
Detroit Connecting Railroad
Detroit Connecting Railroad
NXDN NEXEDGE 4800
This is the primary radio system.
Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
Project 25 Phase II
This radio system is used by railroad police officers for communications across the state, and with local emergency first responders.
Grand Elk Railroad
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.335WQKK856 RM AAR 015 Dispatch FMN Railroad
160.920 RM AAR 054 Grand Elk Upjohn Spur AAR 54 FMN Railroad
161.535 RM AAR 095 Grand Elk Yard AAR 95 FMN Railroad
Great Lakes Central
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.575KNEU675 BM AAR 031 Road FMN Railroad
161.100KNEU675 BM AAR 066 Yard FMN Railroad
Huron & Eastern
Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
Project 25 Phase II
This radio system is used by railroad police officers for communications across the state, and with local emergency first responders.
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.380WQBJ763 BM AAR 018 Dispatcher - Future Use FMN Railroad
160.440WQBJ763 BM AAR 022 Road FMN Railroad
161.280WNJN988 BM AAR 078 Road FMN Railroad
161.310WNJN988 BM AAR 080 Yard FMN Railroad
161.355WQBJ763 BM AAR 083 Dispatcher - Future Use FMN Railroad
161.400WQBJ763 BM AAR 086 Dispatcher - Future Use FMN Railroad
462.3875WQAR948 M Future use Future use FMN Railroad
467.3875WQAR948 M Rail Future use FMN Railroad
Indiana & Ohio
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.755WQUK507 BM AAR 43 Road (ex-D.T.&I. Mainline) West of Diann Jct. FMN Railroad
161.220 BM AAR 74 Road (ex-D.T.&I. Mainline) East of Diann Jct. FMN Railroad
161.385WQUK507 BM AAR 85 Road [New] FMN Railroad
Indiana Northeastern
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
151.670KZW853 BM INER PVT Company Operations FMN Railroad
161.100KZW853 BM AAR 066 Road FMN Railroad
161.400KZW853 BM AAR 086 Maintenance FMN Railroad
Marquette Railway
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.440WQDU224 BM AAR 022 Road FMN Railroad
161.310WQDU224 M AAR 080 Switching FMN Railroad
Michigan Southern Railroad
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.755WPFS313 BM AAR 043 Road FMN Railroad
West Michigan Rail
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
161.025WQXL751 BM AAR 061 Road FMN Railroad

Tourist Railroads

Coopersville & Marne
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.695WPFE248 BM AAR 39 Road FMN Railroad
Michigan Transit Museum
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.260WQZS624 RM AAR 010 Operations 1 FMN Railroad
160.770WQZS624 BM AAR 044 Operations 2 FMN Railroad
161.310WQZS624 BM AAR 080 Operations 3 FMN Railroad
Southern Michigan Railroad Society
FrequencyLicenseTypeToneAlpha TagDescriptionModeTag
160.260WQCU455 BM AAR 010 Road FMN Transportation