Station information for Chicago Union Station on the Amtrak website indicates that the station is open 7 days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. each day.
According to the station information for Chicago Union Station, bags need to be checked at least 60 minutes before boarding. You will be given a baggage check for your checked luggage. Don't lose the baggage check. (I can't remember where you check your bags at Union Station but there should...
When was this? Amtrak would have had an obligation to provide accommodations and to provide re-scheduling for connecting passengers and there would certainly have been connecting passengers on No. 8.
In 2014 we arrived on No. 6 after midnight. We were directed to go to customer service and...
Press release and video issued by Amtrak for the 75th Anniversary of the California Zephyr:
https://media.amtrak.com/2024/03/happy-anniversary-california-zephyr/
The decline in service levels has been rather shocking. The arrival of Covid provided an excuse for the decline in service for a while but that excuse is now wearing thin and is no longer credible.
My suggestion, based on experience, would be to call Amtrak about 7 to 10 days before departure and ask them. At that point, information should be more accurate.
Last Fall some who claimed or purported to be "in the know" indicated that tentatively the Lake Shore would have a traditional dining service back by "late this year [2023] or early next year [2024]." Late 2023 has now come and gone and I haven't seen any traditional dining on the Lake Shore...
That is a good explanation except that the separate rights of way years ago were Western Pacific and Southern Pacific. Union Pacific was not in the picture at that time. Corrections would be welcome.
It is quite inconsistent for no valid reason and passengers never know what to expect. It seems that on the Lake Shore it has been like that for years.
I understand that there has been a derailment (with no injuries) on the Green line after it had recently been reopened after being closed for 18 days for track maintenance. Maybe someone can post a link to an article which is not behind a paywall.
LInk to an article from the LA Times on a trip on the Zephyr:
https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2024-03-07/amtrack-train-california-zephyr-emeryville-truckee