Dear Amtrak Customer,
We see you are scheduled to board the train or make a connection in Chicago. To provide our customers with a more convenient experience, we now have a new boarding process at Chicago Union Station. Coach Class customers (except Hiawatha Service customers) boarding or connecting to reserved trains in Chicago will need a boarding pass.
When you get to the station, check in with a station employee who will verify your ticket and give you a boarding pass. You will then be directed to the appropriate boarding area to wait for your train. The earlier you check in, the earlier you’ll be in the boarding process. If you don't check in, you'll be among the last to board. General boarding for Coach Class customers will take place in the Great Hall. Since Hiawatha Service trains are unreserved, boarding passes are not needed. Hiawatha Service customers can go straight to the North Boarding Lounge to wait for their train.
Coach Class customers who want priority boarding can purchase a $20 pass for the Legacy Club and enjoy free snacks, TV, games plus the benefit of early boarding access. Uniformed military personnel can enjoy the Legacy Club free of charge.
Seniors age 62 and over, customers with disabilities, families with children 12 and under, and active duty military personnel can board from the South Boarding Lounge, ahead of general boarding.
If you are traveling in a Sleeping car, Business Class, or are a Select Plus or a Select Executive Amtrak Guest Rewards member, you will be boarded early from the Metropolitan Lounge. Just make sure to wait in the in the Metropolitan Lounge in order to take advantage of advance boarding.
Passengers should arrive at Chicago Union Station no later than 45 minutes before departure (60 minutes if ticketing, baggage or passenger assistance services are required). Note that the boarding gates will close five minutes before train departure.
We look forward to welcoming you to Chicago Union Station. Thank you for choosing Amtrak.
Sincerely,
Amtrak Customer Service
It isn't as bad as many would make it out to be. For somebody who is not familiare with the layout of Chicago Union Station, it can be quite helpful. Having recently ridden the "Empire Builder" out of CUS, I'm familiar with the portion highlighted in red and it worked quite nicely.
Boarding the CZ as a sleeping class passenger last month was not quite so nice: since the manned baggage storage room is no more, everyone with baggage tried to retrieve theirs from the tiny self storage room at the same time, the coach waiting room staff got their orders mixed up apparently and a massive pile up of sleeper passengers and coach passengers congealed at the gate area. Not pretty as we went last. Apparently as an economy move, I believe four Red Caps were let go and the Metropolitan Lounge desk staff are having a lot more to deal with, especially on busy holiday/heavy travel days. Maybe they will get in right, or at least better, this time.
blue streak 1When you get to the station, check in with a station employee who will verify your ticket and give you a boarding pass.
What am I missing? This sounds overly complex, a bit redundant and just insane. I can understand the need for a boarding pass equivalent, but you should be able to obtain them for all trip segments (reserved seat or not) prior to departure. I haven't traveled Amtrak in a while, but doesn't your printed E-ticket serve as a boarding pass?
At LAX I hear they have implemented a similar procedure. If you arrive on one train you have to walk from the platform back to the (crowded, understaffed) ticketing area, get a 'boarding pass', then walk all the way back. What Total Bulls**t!
Perhaps Mr. Moorman needs to apply his baseball bat to the managers who dreamed this one up. If there is a 'security' justification for all this, it should be explained better.
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MikeF90 blue streak 1 When you get to the station, check in with a station employee who will verify your ticket and give you a boarding pass. What am I missing? This sounds overly complex, a bit redundant and just insane. I can understand the need for a boarding pass equivalent, but you should be able to obtain them for all trip segments (reserved seat or not) prior to departure. I haven't traveled Amtrak in a while, but doesn't your printed E-ticket serve as a boarding pass? At LAX I hear they have implemented a similar procedure. If you arrive on one train you have to walk from the platform back to the (crowded, understaffed) ticketing area, get a 'boarding pass', then walk all the way back. What Total Bulls**t! Perhaps Mr. Moorman needs to apply his baseball bat to the managers who dreamed this one up. If there is a 'security' justification for all this, it should be explained better.
blue streak 1 When you get to the station, check in with a station employee who will verify your ticket and give you a boarding pass.
Compare this bizarre, clumsy process with boarding/transfer/ticketing procedures in countries with much more extensive (and better) passenger services. Why can't we simply use their proven methods.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Is there a direct connection somwhere from the Great Hall directly to track level, either north or south bound? Perhaps I'm not that familiar with the station, but the only way I know to do it would take you through the tunnel then past the ticketing area and so on. It seems as if they have added walking distance for the average passenger.
The departure of two trains to the west coast is delayed until two trains from the east coast come in because it is known that many passengers have tickets on the trains to the west. Do such passengers (some of whom need help in transferring) have to go inside to get their boarding passes, or may thay continue immediately to their their connecting trains?
Johnny
Dakguy201 It seems as if they have added walking distance for the average passenger.
It seems as if they have added walking distance for the average passenger.
Passengers have been waiting and boarding from the Great Hall for a long time. That's where Amtrak has had their check in area and where you've been told to wait and then line up to walk through the tunnel to the assigned track and train. So distance shouldn't be anything new.
schlimmCompare this bizarre, clumsy process with boarding/transfer/ticketing procedures in countries with much more extensive (and better) passenger services. Why can't we simply use their proven methods.
Only an issue for Illinois Passengers that Originate at CUS (lol). They are trying to get the agent in the loop of upselling to Legacy Lounge and other soon to be introduced services no doubt. I can board at Milwaukee for Texas and still skip past the CUS crapola.
Deggesty The departure of two trains to the west coast is delayed until two trains from the east coast come in because it is known that many passengers have tickets on the trains to the west. Do such passengers (some of whom need help in transferring) have to go inside to get their boarding passes, or may thay continue immediately to their their connecting trains?
I would doubt it highly, this is only for Amtrak passengers originating at CUS. They are doing it for marketing to give their agents an opportunity to upsell the Legacy Lounge.....pretty sure of that.
CMStPnP Deggesty The departure of two trains to the west coast is delayed until two trains from the east coast come in because it is known that many passengers have tickets on the trains to the west. Do such passengers (some of whom need help in transferring) have to go inside to get their boarding passes, or may thay continue immediately to their their connecting trains? I would doubt it highly, this is only for Amtrak passengers originating at CUS. They are doing it for marketing to give their agents an opportunity to upsell the Legacy Lounge.....pretty sure of that.
Th press release does say "Coach Class customers (except Hiawatha Service customers) boarding or connecting to reserved trains in Chicago will need a boarding pass." (emphasis added)
Obviously we'll have to see how it all shakes out in practice.
DragomanTh press release does say "Coach Class customers (except Hiawatha Service customers) boarding or connecting to reserved trains in Chicago will need a boarding pass." (emphasis added) Obviously we'll have to see how it all shakes out in practice.
It's explained with more clarity on the Amtrak website. Looks like connecting passengers will have to get a boarding pass (lol). Oh well, still does not apply to me because I only ever use the Hiawatha trains and Sleeping Car Class.
1. It says if you do not check in (meaning no boarding pass), your penalty is you will board last not that the train will leave without you. Remember it says the boarding pass can be obtained by any Amtrak employee in the station including I would think the one telling you that you cannot board presumably. So on most coach class trains, I do not see a problem unless the train is crowded, just ignore the procedure and board last?
2. For those requiring assistance no matter what they do they will always get boarding position "B" my interpretation. A, B, C, D, and E will be assigned. Boarding positions are assigned on a first come first serve availability based on when you check in.
3. If you read the website policy it is an attempt to upsell passengers to a higher level of accomodations before the train leaves the station because it tells you that is the way to avoid the procedure.........upgrade.
I was just now looking at Amtrak's website--and I was unable to determine how to find mention of this new policy. I would like to be clear on this, since I am currently on a trip that takes me through Chicago (with private room space in and out) twice in the next two weeks.
I need help with my luggage since I now use a walker--and it is not easy to manage by myself what I need on my travels.
It does seem to me that requiring a boarding pass complicates the the procedure for those are aare not stopping in Chicago, but are taking the next train out.
I have appreciated the manned luggage room in Chicago, but I have trusted the unmanned room in the Acela Club in Washington. However, many more people use the Metropolitan Lounge than use the Acela Club for long distance travel.
I am not really looking forwrd to changing trains in Chicago in the next two weeks.
Why does Amtrak require anything to board? You should be able to go out on the platform, board your car and take your seat or room and show the conductor your tablet or paper ticket when he comes around. It's 2016, not 1956.
I agree with what Schlimm just said about boarding. Of course, various individuals are pushing for TSA style security theatre over the trains. They never quite get around to explaining to us why those procedures are desirable for the long distance trains, but not for the thousands of commuters on the next platform nor the elevated/subway system a few blocks away.
It's right here..........
https://www.amtrak.com/boarding
https://www.amtrak.com/chicago-union-station-boarding
schlimm Why does Amtrak require anything to board? You should be able to go out on the platform, board your car and take your seat or room and show the conductor your tablet or paper ticket when he comes around. It's 2016, not 1956.
Someone made the decision they were not hauling enough loose trash off the train between the origin and destination so Amtrak Management thought they would add to the large pile.
Seriously though I think they are trying to load the trains faster as well as upsell the new lounges and accomodations at CUS.
Deggesty I was just now looking at Amtrak's website--and I was unable to determine how to find mention of this new policy. I would like to be clear on this, since I am currently on a trip that takes me through Chicago (with private room space in and out) twice in the next two weeks. I need help with my luggage since I now use a walker--and it is not easy to manage by myself what I need on my travels. It does seem to me that requiring a boarding pass complicates the the procedure for those are aare not stopping in Chicago, but are taking the next train out. I have appreciated the manned luggage room in Chicago, but I have trusted the unmanned room in the Acela Club in Washington. However, many more people use the Metropolitan Lounge than use the Acela Club for long distance travel. I am not really looking forwrd to changing trains in Chicago in the next two weeks.
Well first this is just for RESERVED TRAINS in which you are traveling COACH.
No matter if you obtain a boarding pass or not, you have a disability and will always board in group B. So it is really pointless for you to get a boarding pass and it clearly says in the policy you do not have to check in, they will only hold you back until GROUP D. They are not going to sell your reserved seat.
Here is the policy:
Also, BTW, it clearly says "Check in WITH ANY UNIFORMED AMTRAK EMPLOYEE IN THE STATION", it does not say you have to walk all the way to ticketing. My interpretation of that instruction is you can probably handle it as a connecting passenger by informing your onboard crew member before your train arrives and they can have someone meet your train or they can at least get a red cap to assist you.
My Mother has problems walking long distances and Amtrak meets her with a golf cart at trainside in DC and in Chicago when she takes the train. No issue, she just informs the Sleeping Car attendant before the train arrives and the cart is usually trainside waiting for her.
Come to think of it, isn't this exactly the way things were done in 1956?
As I remember, in Chicago back then it was only sleeping-car passengers who had to check in at the gate. I was a coach traveler in those days, and I remember always walking on through after the boarding call.
Granted, almost all of my Chicago experience was at LaSalle.
It was the same at the other Chicago stations, even in the 60s, coach and sleeper alike.
When I began riding on my own, in the fifties, it was simply a matter of going out to the train (when the gate was opened, in the larger places) and boarding; perhaps making sure that it was the right train in a place such as Atlanta or Birmingham.
In the past week and a half, I have been in and out of Chicago twice. Both times, I had a ride to and from the Metropolitan lounge. Upon arrival at the lounge, I showed my ticket for the next leg of my trip; the ticket was marked, and I was told when the red caps would be back to carry passengers to the train I was taking. Nothing was said about any pass-either boarding or to come back into the lounge if I should go out for any reason.
Apparently the passes are for coach passengers, who may wait in the old coach waiting room or the Great Hall--just be in the Great Hall to be ushered to their trains?
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