Amtrak Exploring O'Hare - Chicago Union Station route

[HTower]

 

Amtrak exploring Chicago-to-O'Hare service

"Gov. Pat Quinn
 has asked Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman to conduct a study examining what 
it would take, logistically and financially, to commence fast, nonstop 
passenger rail service between Chicago Union Station and O'Hare, your Getting Around reporter has learned.



The governor envisions the proposed rail line, which at this point is 
strictly conceptual, as offering a more extensive reach than the O'Hare 
branch of the CTA Blue Line, which runs between the Loop and the airport, and Mayor Richard Daley's plan for premium "Airport Express" service between the uncompleted Block 37 "super station" downtown and O'Hare."

So a few comments
1. I thought Amtrak had been limited to inter city service
2. Quinn wants Amtrak to do it instead of upgrading the existing Metra service because it might bring in more federal dollars.
3. If CN won't let Metra expand its operation on their line for service to OHare, why would they let Amtrak add service?
4. 4 times daily isn't going to cut it service wise, Metra has better experience at this type of commuter rail

[henry6]

An interesting concept...but wouldn't service from downtown to the airport come under the realm of Transit Authority?  Or even a joint venture.  In Philadelphia it is SEPTA but at Newark, NJ it is both NJT and certain Amtrak trains, NYC is all Port Authority after a city subway ride.

[schlimm]

Here's a link:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/traffic/ct-met-getting-around-0221-20110220,0,2409533.column

I think the idea is to have airport rail service more like the Europeans do at some of their airports.  For example at Frankfurt International, you can either take a suburban train to Frankfurt or you can board a high speed ICE train to most large German cities.

Beyond the Chicago NC line, a major problem for expanding passenger/suburban services remains the private rail lines blocking added or new services.

[blue streak 1]

4 per day...........nuts Gatwick has 4 per hour and they are busy. Any less and you cannot compete with CTA or privat3e buses.

[cudjoebob]

I would think that metra officials would be quite miffed at being 'bypassed' by the governor!  where did the figure '4 times a day' come from?  that is truly laughable!  

surely they mean '4 times an hour'.    what is the 'block 37 super station' downtown?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Block 37 is the area currently under development (it took long enough) bounded by State, Randolph, Dearborn and Washington.  It sits between Macy's and the Daley Center.

[HarveyK400]

1.  The proposal, as I understood it, was to extend current Amtrak intercity services to O'Hare in an expeditious manner as a train-to-plane operation.  Maybe some thought would be given to future HSR development and other transit, especially Metra, opportunities.

2.  Train-to-plane is seen as a benefit for Downstate (and Michigan) cities with lousy and expensive air service quite separate from Metra.

3.  The CN opposition to more Metra trains may be relevant only from Leithton (Mundelein) north due to the freight diversion to the EJ&E, well beyond O'Hare.  And didn't the State already pick up the tab for extensive new 2nd main?

4.a.  Again, there may be confusion with Illinois and Michigan corridor frequencies. 

4.b.  Whether an airport shuttle will be discussed is not clear.  I might add that Amtrak owns Union Station; so there is some bargaining power in who runs what.  Metra equipment certainly isn't all that conducive for air travelers; but quite a few nevertheless use the North Central Service to O'Hare Transfer.  Neither Superliners or California cars are very good either with limited prime space on the lower level; and Amfleet and Horizon are inappropriate with low level platforms.  The best solution may be Talgo with longitudinal flip-up seating to accommodate luggage.