The platforms are extremely narrow. The station was built with narrow platforms on each side of the train; one side for passengers, the other for mail and express. The mail platforms have a ramp going directly into the basement of the station, so they’re not usable for passengers. Union Station was built for long distance trains, but today, most trains are commuter trains or corridor trains, although it has the most long distance trains of any station, none of which carry mail and express. The narrow passenger platforms were made much worse by the construction of buildings on air rights over the tracks leading to massive pillars in the middle of the passenger platforms. This accident occurred as the red cap was navigating around one of this pillars. Boarding and deboarding trains at Union is a circus. Mobs of passengers and carts zig zagging along narrow platforms. I’ve come close to being hit by carts. It’s not a good situation. Perhaps the carts could use the baggage platforms with the doors open on both sides until there is a more permanent fix. Changing the track layout will be a massive endeavor, but has to happen, at least on the South Side. The North Side tracks aren’t as busy yet, and there is only one really long distance train that uses that side; the Empire Builder. Chicago Union is an amazing place. It’s just sad they demolished the concourse in the late ‘60’s and replaced it with a cramped basement.
