Free Legacy Club Access in CHI for Hoosier Passengers Thru 3/31/17

[rtabern]

A contact of mine at Amtrak HQ in DC says that Amtrak reached a deal with INDOT that all Hoosier passengers (coach and biz class) will have free access to the Legacy Club (not Met Lounge) in Chicago through March 31st. Haven't seen this in the press release or really published or advertised anywhere. Has anyone else? If anyone is going -- give it a try. I am wondering if the staff in the Legacy Club knows about this and will easily accept passengers... or if they will act all confused... kinda like the S+ status a few years back in the lounge before Anthony straightened them out.

 

[Eric S]

It was announced somewhere, but a quick search of recent news didn't turn up what I remembered reading.

EDIT: Ah, here we go - http://www.in.gov/activecalendar/EventList.aspx?view=EventDetails&eventidn=257448&information_id=255819&type&syndicate=syndicate

Specfically:

"While Amtrak passengers in business class always have access to the Metropolitan Lounge at Chicago Union Station, coach customers normally pay for an upgrade for the Legacy Club, a separate waiting area at the station that has complementary snacks and beverages, charging stations and boarding ahead of other coach passengers. For the month of March, Amtrak Hoosier State coach customers will enjoy complementary Legacy Club access, a $20 value."

 

[Lonestar648]

I remember reading about the March access to Legacy Lounge, plus the Amtrak dome car was to be in the consist for all passengers. Said that Amtrak would have a manned cafe car with a better menu than normal. Not sure how long this will last. Legacy was for sure until 3/31. The dome was limited also, but do not remember a date.

 

[jis]

Everything including the very existence of the train is upto 3/31 at this point.

Correction: The core Contract is through June 30th. So the existence of the train is certain till June 30th See:

http://wbaa.org/post/acrimony-past-amtrak-indot-cooperate-improve-hoosier-state-train#stream/0

 

[Lonestar648]

Guess it is up to INDOT now to work out a contract with Amtrak.

 

[Palmetto]

That's a good PR move on Amtrak's part. Now if they could just improve running times somehow.

 

[Triley]

That's a good PR move on Amtrak's part. Now if they could just improve running times somehow.

That's been discussed to death, and again, Indiana will get whatever Indiana pays for. It is their train, not ours. We just run it.

 

[A Voice]

That's a good PR move on Amtrak's part. Now if they could just improve running times somehow.

That's been discussed to death, and again, Indiana will get whatever Indiana pays for. It is their train, not ours. We just run it.

I agree with your point, of course, but a lack of "ownership" or vested interest (for lack of better terms) on the part of Amtrak for the success of state-supported trains is actually a problem. The trains are all Amtrak services regardless of who pays the operating subsidy; The company can't just be a hired contractor and nothing more.

 

[districtRich]

That's a good PR move on Amtrak's part. Now if they could just improve running times somehow.

That's been discussed to death, and again, Indiana will get whatever Indiana pays for. It is their train, not ours. We just run it.

I agree with your point, of course, but a lack of "ownership" or vested interest (for lack of better terms) on the part of Amtrak for the success of state-supported trains is actually a problem. The trains are all Amtrak services regardless of who pays the operating subsidy; The company can't just be a hired contractor and nothing more.

And Amtrak can't just go in and fix the tracks if they wanted to. They don't own the tracks. Where they do own tracks such as the NEC and the smaller portions in Michigan the trains run at 110mph+.

 

[A Voice]

That's a good PR move on Amtrak's part. Now if they could just improve running times somehow.

That's been discussed to death, and again, Indiana will get whatever Indiana pays for. It is their train, not ours. We just run it.

I agree with your point, of course, but a lack of "ownership" or vested interest (for lack of better terms) on the part of Amtrak for the success of state-supported trains is actually a problem. The trains are all Amtrak services regardless of who pays the operating subsidy; The company can't just be a hired contractor and nothing more.

And Amtrak can't just go in and fix the tracks if they wanted to. They don't own the tracks. Where they do own tracks such as the NEC and the smaller portions in Michigan the trains run at 110mph+.

Don't think for a minute, though, that if Amtrak or the state or someone were to approach CSX with a few billion to spend on track upgrades and other improvements that the railroad wouldn't be interested. There would have to be extensive negotiations (note upgrades on Union Pacific lines), but what company would not want a dramatically improved route on someone else's dime?

 

[Lonestar648]

Need the infrastructure funds that Trump has promised.