Chicago Union Station discussion

[striker71]

I took a two night trip Houston to Utica, I was happy to take a shower with a 7 hour layover. The woman at the door was pretty gruff, especially to someone who never rode trains before.

 

[MARC Rider]

Chicago attendants have given me a hard time about my status when entering that Lounge. I've had to repeatedly remind them that Amtrack status also grants access. I typically point to their own placard in the Louge entrance that says this, which is just feet away from their desk. Multiple attendants demand a business class ticket and reject anyone else. So plan on needing to explain their own rules to them.

I also recommend the upstairs of Chicago's lounge. There's a streetlevel window where you can sit and watch "the world go by".

I've shown my Select Plus at Chicago and have never had a problem.

 

[John Santos]

I understand that the lounge pass purchase options exclude coach passengers, I was just wondering if that had changed over the years?

Having read the Rules and Regs in the link above, I see I would in any case be unwelcome in the lounges:

"Attire and conduct of lounge customers and their guests must be in keeping with good taste and a dignified atmosphere."

I don't know. They let ME in!

 

[Saddleshoes]

I took a two night trip Houston to Utica, I was happy to take a shower with a 7 hour layover. The woman at the door was pretty gruff, especially to someone who never rode trains before.

I travel through CHI regularly. I am sure I know the lady your are speaking of here. I have watched her act for years.
I have been the recipient of some of her gruffness a few times too.
I think she does a great job and makes the line move faster by her actions.
I also think she is funny.
I have also seen her show grace and kindness when it is needed.
I wish I could hire her to handle crowd control at my place.

 

[zephyr17]

I travel through CHI regularly. I am sure I know the lady your are speaking of here. I have watched her act for years.
I have been the recipient of some of her gruffness a few times too.
I think she does a great job and makes the line move faster by her actions.
I also think she is funny.
I have also seen her show grace and kindness when it is needed.
I wish I could hire her to handle crowd control at my place.

I think I've encountered the same lady there, too. She keeps things moving, especially when the LSL and Cap come in and disgorge a lot of people connecting to the western trains. Yes, can be gruff, especially with anyone delaying lounge check in, but I've found her quite nice and personable when isn't busy checking in a train load of sleeper passengers.

 

[caravanman]

Hi Folks, I am looking for advice as to the current best place to try to meet up with another AU member at Chicago Union Station on my trip in early September?
I would assume the "great hall", but I am unsure about the station infrastructure alterations, is that place still open, with seating?
Any other easy to locate suggestions for tired coach seat travellers?

 

[NorthShore]

Hi Folks, I am looking for advice as to the current best place to try to meet up with another AU member at Chicago Union Station on my trip in early September?
I would assume the "great hall", but I am unsure about the station infrastructure alterations, is that place still open, with seating?
Any other easy to locate suggestions for tired coach seat travellers?

Don't do it!!!! Other AU members will warn you about meeting me in person when visiting Chicago. I'm likely to lead you on one of Tim's Tours. You've met me once before, at a Gathering. Think twice about making that mistake again.

But, if you must: meet someone else.

From personal experience, I did get together for about an hour with an online friend passing through town in the Great Hall about three months ago. We had a very nice and comfortable chat sitting on one of the classic benches which are in the main portion of the hall. I might shy away from sitting in the newer airport style seating near the Clinton street entrance and to the right as you enter the hall from the track concourse. I find it to be sometimes populated by homeless persons trying to sleep.

I've also met up with AU friends in the food court and at sandwich and pizza shops across the street from the station. I think you'd be just fine with any of these areas on a stopover.

 

[zephyr17]

Hi Folks, I am looking for advice as to the current best place to try to meet up with another AU member at Chicago Union Station on my trip in early September?
I would assume the "great hall", but I am unsure about the station infrastructure alterations, is that place still open, with seating?
Any other easy to locate suggestions for tired coach seat travellers?

The middle of the Great Hall is probably best. It is open, and actually not that huge, so it would be easy to see each other. It about avoids the somewhat maze-like and enclosed concourse area. The concourse is also the area where most of the construction is happening.

Another possibility is The Junction bar on the mezzanine/food court level. After a couple days in coach, a drink might be welcome, too.

 

[Cal]

Hi Folks, I am looking for advice as to the current best place to try to meet up with another AU member at Chicago Union Station on my trip in early September?
I would assume the "great hall", but I am unsure about the station infrastructure alterations, is that place still open, with seating?
Any other easy to locate suggestions for tired coach seat travellers?

Great Hall should be open. An easy place would probably be directly in front of the Metropolitan lounge since it's pretty specific and not as big as the great hall. Meet there then grab a seat together.

 

[caravanman]

Great Hall should be open. An easy place would probably be directly in front of the Metropolitan lounge since it's pretty specific and not as big as the great hall. Meet there then grab a seat together.

That sounds like a sensible plan!

 

[caravanman]

Don't do it!!!! Other AU members will warn you about meeting me in person when visiting Chicago. I'm likely to lead you on one of Tim's Tours. You've met me once before, at a Gathering. Think twice about making that mistake again.

But, if you must: meet someone else.

From personal experience, I did get together for about an hour with an online friend passing through town in the Great Hall about three months ago. We had a very nice and comfortable chat sitting on one of the classic benches which are in the main portion of the hall. I might shy away from sitting in the newer airport style seating near the Clinton street entrance and to the right as you enter the hall from the track concourse. I find it to be sometimes populated by homeless persons trying to sleep.

I've also met up with AU friends in the food court and at sandwich and pizza shops across the street from the station. I think you'd be just fine with any of these areas on a stopover.

Tim's tours eh? Sounds interesting... I do like architecture, but at my age I am a bit too old for tours of speakeasy's and strip joints!

I had a mini stroke earlier this year, and my memory is not functioning as well as it should, which gathering was it that we met at, St Louis or the San Francisco one?

 

[NorthShore]

Tim's tours eh? Sounds interesting... I do like architecture, but at my age I am a bit too old for tours of speakeasy's and strip joints!

I had a mini stroke earlier this year, and my memory is not functioning as well as it should, which gathering was it that we met at, St Louis or the San Francisco one?

San Francisco/Bay Area

 

[zetharion]

This lounge is super mega packed today. Apparently they had to put up passengers from a missing train yesterday and it is loaded in here.

 

[thully]

I just got back from a trip to Chicago and ran into the Chicago Union Station construction. I was running late for the 350 Wolverine (6:45am departure is rough, but it was the only option that got me home before evening), and called an Uber to get there at 6:20. I put in Union Station, and whatever I selected took the driver to the Jackson entrance, which is closed. They were going to drive around the block to find an open entrance, but I figured that would mean surely missing my train, given that it was 6:33am at that point.

As such. I followed my instinct and got out by the Fitness Formula Club, figuring there had to be some way to get into the station from there on foot faster than going around the block in traffic. As soon as I stepped out I saw the small sign for “Union Station South Elevator/Fitness Formula Clubs”. Went in and there was a small elevator which took me right down to where the tracks are, and I quickly heard someone doing a boarding call for Michigan. That small door totally saved me a long wait (352 was sold out, so 354 was my next option) or an expensive flight!

In the end, I actually got there in plenty of time and managed to snag a single seat in a Venture business car being sold as coach (that most were avoiding, presumably because they thought it was business class). I wouldn’t recommend arriving that late, though figured this door may come in handy for others running late or wanting to get right down to the tracks (though YMMV on it being locked at certain times).

Unrelated note - they really need a departure between 6:45am and 2:15pm on the Wolverine from CHI. That or move the times later/earlier like they used to be (350 was like an hour later and 352 a couple hours earlier). Same with 353 and 355 the other direction…

 

[Harmon Shay]

I remember hearing that congestion on Norfolk Southern south of Union Station is the reason there can't be any more Chicago-Detroit round trips, hence the idea of moving those trains to the Metra Rock Island District. I hope I have that right. If I do, I wonder how that Rock Island project is going.

 

[Trogdor]

I remember hearing that congestion on Norfolk Southern south of Union Station is the reason there can't be any more Chicago-Detroit round trips, hence the idea of moving those trains to the Metra Rock Island District. I hope I have that right. If I do, I wonder how that Rock Island project is going.

St. Louis trains are supposed to move to Rock Island. The Michigan trains would take the South Shore Line.

 

[TinCan782]

As such. I followed my instinct and got out by the Fitness Formula Club, figuring there had to be some way to get into the station from there on foot faster than going around the block in traffic. As soon as I stepped out I saw the small sign for “Union Station South Elevator/Fitness Formula Clubs”. Went in and there was a small elevator which took me right down to where the tracks are, and I quickly heard someone doing a boarding call for Michigan. That small door totally saved me a long wait (352 was sold out, so 354 was my next option) or an expensive flight!

Late September/early October my wife and I used that entrance/exit and elevator on the advice of our Red Cap. Our Red Cap left her cart inside and carried our bags for us on the elevator to catch a taxi.
Worked out great!
There is a ramp (my wife uses a powered scooter) through the corridor to the elevator and we had easy access to/from a taxi on West Jackson into the station and the Metropolitan Lounge.

 

[Harmon Shay]

St. Louis trains are supposed to move to Rock Island. The Michigan trains would take the South Shore Line.

Thanks. My familiarity with Chicago is better now.

 

[UserNameRequired]

Late September/early October my wife and I used that entrance/exit and elevator on the advice of our Red Cap. Our Red Cap left her cart inside and carried our bags for us on the elevator to catch a taxi.
Worked out great!
There is a ramp (my wife uses a powered scooter) through the corridor to the elevator and we had easy access to/from a taxi on West Jackson into the station and the Metropolitan Lounge.

View attachment 38202View attachment 38203

I am always curious about shortcut entrances to our stations. What level does this elevator let you out, on the concourse level? The Mezzanine level? Both? How about whee does it let you out, right on the platform for the tracks? Inside or outside the glass doors? South Concourse hallway? Thanks!



Edit: oh is it this?

 

[John Bredin]

I am always curious about shortcut entrances to our stations. What level does this elevator let you out, on the concourse level? The Mezzanine level? Both? How about whee does it let you out, right on the platform for the tracks? Inside or outside the glass doors? South Concourse hallway? Thanks!

View attachment 38234

Edit: oh is it this?
View attachment 38235

Yep, that's the one. Stops at street level by the health club as the photo shows, on the mezzanine across from the food court, and on the concourse level across from the southern platforms as the map shows.

 

[TinCan782]

I am always curious about shortcut entrances to our stations. What level does this elevator let you out, on the concourse level? The Mezzanine level? Both? How about whee does it let you out, right on the platform for the tracks? Inside or outside the glass doors? South Concourse hallway? Thanks!


Edit: oh is it this?
View attachment 38235

Yep, South Concourse ("inside" the glass doors). IIRC it will also take you to the Mezzine (food) level.

 

[TinCan782]

Just noticed that the advisory for the street project that was effective through Fall 2024 is now effective through Fall 2025!

Chicago Street Project Temporarily Changes Chicago Union Station Customer Access
Effective through Fall 2025
https://www.amtrak.com/alert/chicago-union-station-access-impacted-by-street-project.html

I didn't do a detailed comparison but, it appears to just be more of the same.

 

[drdumont]

Just noticed that the advisory for the street project that was effective through Fall 2024 is now effective through Fall 2025!

Chicago Street Project Temporarily Changes Chicago Union Station Customer Access
Effective through Fall 2025
https://www.amtrak.com/alert/chicago-union-station-access-impacted-by-street-project.html

I didn't do a detailed comparison but, it appears to just be more of the same.

We have dealt with this since day one over a year ago. The elevator that lands directly in front of the Metropolitan Lounge is still operational as of last Sunday. You have to schlep your luggage down to W Adams and argue with LYFT who wants you to go to the other side.