Recent content by DR04

Ryan good to know. Thanks for the speedy reply. While I'm not eager for big delays, I can deal with it a lot better in a sleeper with a bottle of wine than on a bus :)

I was planning and much looking forward to our first cross country train trip with sleepers on #7 leaving CHI the 12/21 and departing SPK 12/29 back to CHI. I'm OK with late trains but between Chicago and Spokane are we likely to be riding in a bus? Or are bustitutions occurring moreso west of...

The complaint with UP was a valid one, IMO. They would shut down entire routes due to wind advisories because UP lacked the data to make informed decisions. Not necessarily UP's fault - just an annoying situation. This was a simple fix, however. Metra is adding wind speed sensors at points...

It looks like they've got ~15 cars within half a mile of the station. Is this a suitable area to walk to go pick one up? ---- And thanks so far for the help everyone. I actually live about 3 blocks from Union Station, so the fancy lounge might not be worth the extra $100 for me...I'm not...

I live in Chicago and belong to Zipcar. We were thinking of taking the 350 out to Ann Arbor, picking up a zipcar near the station and going up to Frankenmuth for a few hours. Then we'd head back down and take the 355 back to Chicago. Couple questions: 1) With business class, are you assigned...

I can't tell if this guy was working or not. I ride with TSA employees out of CUS every day. They are commuting to/from home and Midway/O'Hare.

I don't believe so - but I think that's because there is no need for hotel shuttle buses in downtown Chicago. It's already too easy to get to nearly every hotel in the Loop, River North, Mag Mile or Gold Coast. The CTA 'L' trains (only a couple blocks from Union) will get you almost anywhere...

Portillo's at Ontario and Clark has great Chicago fast food - the CPD (and I) love it there. A good sit down place is at Miller's Pub - great Chicago comfort food and a good selection of booze at the Adams/Wabash L stop (nearly every L train stops there) about 8 blocks east. I also HIGHLY...

Yea you are exactly right. I meant to say some of the Amtrak trains that depart/arrive Chicago Union Station pass through McCormick Place Station. But all Amtrak trains going through McCormick Place station do indeed terminate at CUS. In some additional news it looks like Metra Electric...

Pretty much right, depending on "which" station we are talking about. To be clear - the NATO Summit is being held at McCormick Place, which is above the McCormick Street Station. Metra and Amtrak trains pass through McCormick Street station (which is underneath McCormick Place). SOME of the...

Since the time of the original post in January, the G8 component of the summit was split off. Now with only NATO the summit is only 2 days - Sun & Mon with additional security impacts for the days ahead too. It will be an interesting time to visit Chicago for sure. United States Secret Service...

Good advice on here to/from Wrigley Field. However I strongly recommend the Chicago Water Taxi (Wendella yellow boats) for the CUS-Mag Mile trip. It's cheaper, more relaxing, faster during rush, and gets you a breathtaking view of the city. $3 one-way and connects CUS (Madison Street...

Thully, I'll offer some advice that hasn't been offered yet. As someone who lives in the Loop, I often spring for Metra's intracity services as Metra can be faster and more enjoyable than the CTA 'L'. As a Chicago Loop resident and a Sox fan, I've often taken advantage of Metra's Rock Island...

CUS is 3 blocks from my front door. And the EB gets within about 30 feet of my building. I assume I don't win the greatest distance award.

The 5:10 estimate for Chicago to Dubuque is based on very old data. That timing was estimated back during the '07 study. A newer study acknowledged better track conditions now exist (in 2010) but didn't provide an updated schedule. IL-DOT is also negotiating with CN on running multiple trains...