Chicago Union Station discussion

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vap0rtranz said:
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".
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I've shown my Select Plus at Chicago and have never had a problem.
 
caravanman said:
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." :D :D
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I don't know. They let ME in!
 
striker71 said:
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.
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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.
 
Saddleshoes said:
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.
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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.
 
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? ;)
 
caravanman said:
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? ;)
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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. :p

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.
 
caravanman said:
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? ;)
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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.
 
caravanman said:
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? ;)
Click to expand...
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.
 
NorthShore said:
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. :p

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.
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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?
 
caravanman said:
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?
Click to expand...

San Francisco/Bay Area
 
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…
 
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.
 

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