In a week i'm going to be taking the Empire Builder from Staples, MN to Chicago and connecting to the Lake Shore Limited. My concerns right now is making the connection in Chicago and what will happen if the Empire is running late (which it has been averaging about 2-6 hours late over the last week). Just looking for some insight on what to expect
First time jitters...
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the_traveler
Engineer
Because the LSL is a late departure time, there should be no problem with that connection. But if for some reason the EB is very late, since it is a guaranteed connection, Amtrak will put you up in a hotel (on their dime 
) and also provide transportation (or cab fare) to the hotel and include meals!
) and also provide transportation (or cab fare) to the hotel and include meals!
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ALC Rail Writer
Engineer
If your EB is too late to miss the connection they will put you in a hotel, give you money for meals and book you on the next train and usually give you a voucher for your inconvninience. Sad to say Amtrak is getting used to this proceedure and will be ready if you do miss the connection.
Are you in coach or sleeper? It is a lot more pleasant to ride out delays in sleepers.
Are you in coach or sleeper? It is a lot more pleasant to ride out delays in sleepers.
ALC Rail Writer
Engineer
What is your departure date? I ask this because you will be able to track your train starting from when it leaves the west coast, meaning you may get a whole day's worth of notice if the train gets horribly delayed in Montana or North Dakota in which case you may want to have a secondary plan in place to get to Chicago or VT. I know I would.
Most of the EB's problems have been in the part of it's route west of you, so if it is only a few hours behind as it picks you up there is very good chance it will make it's connection. I wouldn't worry until the train is above six or seven hours behind, so overall the odds are in your favor.
Most of the EB's problems have been in the part of it's route west of you, so if it is only a few hours behind as it picks you up there is very good chance it will make it's connection. I wouldn't worry until the train is above six or seven hours behind, so overall the odds are in your favor.
ALC Rail Writer
Engineer
If you get to Chicago your ticket will still be good even if you didn't get on the EB. I don't see why you would fly after getting to Chicago since you're holding a valid train ticket. Once more you should be able to get the Staples-Chicago portion of your trip back in the form of a voucher.
Joe F
Train Attendant
If the EB is very late, Amtrak will usually run a bus from MSP to Chicago for passengers making connections there. You can check to see if Amtrak will let you ride that bus if the EB is way behind schedule and you drive in from Staples. It's not the best option, of course, but you will be able to make your connection in Chicago.
ALC Rail Writer
Engineer
If it is cancelled Amtrak will call whatever phone number you left with the reservation. You will be given the option to rebook, or else get a refund if you cancel your trip as a result of a canceled train. Sometimes when it is canceled they still run a train MSP-CHI.
Is a hiking pack to big to be considered carry-on? it's roughly 30 / 12 / 9.4 (H x W x D) Inch I know this isn't exactly the same size as what Amtrak has on their website, but the overall size off it's site. Also there is no check baggage on the EB from SPL to CHI
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the_traveler
Engineer
Technically, there is a size/weight limit, but actually as long as it's of reasonable size (not 8 feet long and/or 5 feet around) and you can easily carry it yourself (it does not require 3 people to carry it), it can be a carry-on. No one will have a tape measure or scale!
ALC Rail Writer
Engineer
Hiking bag shouldn't be a problem, just ask the people who get on the AT at Harpers Ferry or those getting off at Glacier. I speak from personal experience I usually take Amtrak to hiking trips and I've never had a problem with my bag.
Actually that is incorrect, unless he first calls Amtrak to let them know. If he no shows in Staples, all existing downline reservations will cancel unless he speaks with an agent.
12 or so hours from SPL to CHI. Then a layover at CHI before a 17hr trip from CHI to ALB
the_traveler
Engineer
Three tips:
1) Sit back and enjoy the trip,
2) Remember that there is no dinner served on the Lake Shore Limited, and
3) Throw away your watch!
There is no dinner service, due to the late departure from Chicago. (The first meal served is breakfast at 6:30. The café car will be open until 11-midnight.) You can also either grab dinner in Chicago (the station is right downtown and there are plenty of choices within a few blocks) or at the food court on the entire second floor of Union Station.
A portion of the trip from south of Minneapolis to north of Milwaukee goes within sight of the Mississippi River and again between Utica to Schenectady goes along the Mohawk River (AKA Erie Canal)! And the station at ALB (which is actually across the Hudson River in Rensselaer) is very nice.
OlympianHiawatha
Engineer
And as you sit back and relax and enjoy the PROPER way to travel just think about all those people shoehorned into airports and airliners, paying $20 a day to park, another pile of money to put a bag or 2 on the 'plane, getting strip searched and interrogated and finally arriving their destinations feeling like something the cat ate and threw back out.
abcnews
OBS Chief
We were on a pretty late eastbound Empire Builder one December (2010) and we missed our Cardinal connection at 5:45 PM. But we arrived almost and hour before the Lake Shore Limited even departed. So all of the LSL passengers were fine.
And not only that, but Amtrak did provide a bus for the MSP Amtrak passengers earlier that morning, so they were OK with their connections, even to the Cardinal and Capital Limited. Unlike us - we were coming in from the west coast on the very late Empire Builder, and we were doomed. When we arrived at MSP, there were no passengers - just bitter cold and snow. A lonely feeling.
We kind of felt a bit like the German soldiers at Stalingrad in World War ll. We knew Amtrak had bused the others (MSP) passengers out to Chicago, and we were left behind.
We were traveling with a nice contingency of fellow Amtrak sleeper passengers, riding the rails for leisure , as we were, and we were all OK with the delays. They did give us cash and hotel rooms in Chicago.
And not only that, but Amtrak did provide a bus for the MSP Amtrak passengers earlier that morning, so they were OK with their connections, even to the Cardinal and Capital Limited. Unlike us - we were coming in from the west coast on the very late Empire Builder, and we were doomed. When we arrived at MSP, there were no passengers - just bitter cold and snow. A lonely feeling.
We kind of felt a bit like the German soldiers at Stalingrad in World War ll. We knew Amtrak had bused the others (MSP) passengers out to Chicago, and we were left behind.
We were traveling with a nice contingency of fellow Amtrak sleeper passengers, riding the rails for leisure , as we were, and we were all OK with the delays. They did give us cash and hotel rooms in Chicago.
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