Day trip GRR to CHI

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debmep

Train Attendant
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
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63
Location
West Michigan
Yesterday we used our free voucher to take a quick one day trip from Grand Rapids to Chicago. We had to redeem the vouchers & purchase the tickets in Kalamazoo a few weeks ago. What a beautiful station nothing like Grand Rapids. Hopefully Grand Rapids will gets its new station soon! We thought that a Saturday in October would not be busy on the train or in downtown Chicago but we were mistaken. The train left GRR on time and it was packed. The last car was reserved for all the Holland people getting on. We enjoyed the crew heading to Chicago, they were funny, informative, and attentive. Coming home in the evening was a total opposite. Other than scanning & collecting tickets once we left Union Station, we saw no one. There was an issue with the announcements. Either the employee wasnt speaking into the mike or there was an equipement issue. We knew she was talking but there was no way to understand what she was saying.

Interesting that on the return to GRR, we had an engine on both ends of the 3 cars. We were directed into the first car as we approached the train. I never realized that half of the seats sat one direction, and half sat the other directions (divided @ the steps) . We unfortunately chose the seats that ended up facing backwards heading home. Not a big deal for 2 of us, but hubby didnt like it and was queezy. We could have switched and sat apart from eachother but decided to stay together.

The train heading to Chicago was full, we think the return trip was about 80% full. Funny thing about arriving into Union Station. We never got the annoucement that it was OK to disimbark. No welcome to Chicago or time, etc. People didnt get up, they just continued to sit. We were 5 seats from the front of the first car and were close to the first ones off the train (after one of the employee) Hopefully people got the idea once they saw us all leaving........

Union Station was a ZOO!!!!!!! Especially on the return trip when we had to sit in the south waiting area. So many people & so many trains leaving between 3&6PM. We noticed Amtrak security come thru a few times and wake people up who were sleeping on the floors. They were not blocking isles or anything but I guess sleeping isnt allowed, or maybe laying on the floors? We were so spoiled in March when we used the Metropolitan Lounge for our trip to Albuquerque. So many different "characters" in the waiting room. Lots of Amish. We decided we really dislike the crowded waiting room. No wifi unless we went upstairs. It was loud, hot, and the chairs are uncomfortable. We all got take out food from Union Station for the trip home. My chicken wrap was fine, hubby got Chinese food, and son got a Pizza Hut pizza, breadsticks and soda.

Downtown Chicago on a Saturday was also packed. We attempted to see Willis Tower and the Hancock. Willis tower was first an hour wait to begin the tour, then 90 minutes in the afternoon. Hancock was 90 minutes. The line was almost down the hallway to the Cheecake Factory. N MIchigan was wall to wall people, it was difficult to even walk together. We had lunch at the Grand Lux and walked right in. The food was excellent and we really enjoyed it.

The trains were on time, return trip arrived 10 minutes early into Grand Rapids. The main parking lots was full both coming and going. We parked in the overflow lot. Again the Holland Station was also very busy. Many people got on & off there.
 
We have taken this trip many times! Love it, but the crowds get even worse during the Christmas shopping season!
 
I can't stand the waiting room at CUS, especially on Sundays. It's always crowded, hot, and disorganized. Whenever we go to Chicago for the weekend, we wait upstairs and then head down shortly before they board BC. Unfortunately, the line is usually crowding the hallway at this point, and we have to shove past people. Last time we were there, the Amcops were telling people to leave a gap so people could get through.
 
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