Nasty staff. Our train was at 925. We get the boarding dock at 9:21 and they refused to let us on the train! We missed our train. Apparently there is a 5 minute lock rule where all gates lock 5 minutes before the train leaves. This is not on the ticket!!!! Get your sh*t together Amtrack and print that on your tickets! The attitude was "oh well" While we stood with our luggage looking at our train which was still there, idle. read more

I take it to go back and forth from Chicago to St. Louis. It's usually reasonable with the prices. I get the upper coach which is good because the seats extends both legs and back to almost a twin mini bed. It's for the most part peaceful, I bring drinks and food on but you can also purchase from the food cart train . The time to & from is good . There are outlets by each seat, free WIFI as well. So if I'm not talking Amtrak - I'm taking the Megabus! read more

A sense of dread overcomes me when I think/hear/see/visit Amtrak. Not every single experience has been poor - I've had smooth on-time trips; I've also had downright miserable trips - but enough crummy experiences with miles of room for improvement have left a bad taste in my mouth. I recently visited the Chicago Amtrak ticket station to exchange a voucher. The phrase "hell on earth" was running through my mind as I made my way through the thick crowd of train passengers swarming Union Station to the line in front of the Amtrak agents. There are always extra Amtrak employees walking around not working - with or without a long line. The ticket exchange went fine, and I must say they do have a good/lenient policy when it comes to exchanges. They also have a kiosk where you can print your own tickets that were ordered online so you can bypass the ticket line altogether. Unfortunately, all exchanges must be done in person at the station. I was happy and thankful that I wasn't traveling via Amtrak and got the H out of the station as soon as I was finished. One of the biggest problems I have with Amtrak is there is no guarantee of travel times! Granted, when traveling by any means of transportation, you can encounter setbacks. But when traveling Amtrak, you are at the mercy of freight train schedules and all kinds of other weird problems that seem to always come up (equipment freezing, flood warning speed limits of 20 mph, power outages, etc.). I've been on trains that have stood waiting for 10 minutes, and other times for an hour+ with other multiple delays. Why? Freight trains, weather, miscellaneous train problems - a different day, a different problem - but there's usually some kind of problem. I wish Amtrak (or some other rail company) could provide fast, efficient, reliable service. I would use it more often. I would recommend it to other people. Instead, I often relay horror stories because I want other people to be aware of what they might be in store for. If planned far enough in advance, tickets can be purchased pretty cheap (they do get $$ when busy or last-minute) but even when cheap, oftentimes the savings are just not worth the frustration and wasted time. Based on travel between Chicago and Michigan. read more

This review is for the Wolverine, the route between Chicago and Pontiac, Michigan. The Wolverine has a terrible history of extremely long delays due to single track and slow zones in the middle of Michigan. All through the 1990's and up until this past Christmas, I have been a victim of several of these delays. The shortest usually being around an hour, the longest in the neighborhood of 6 hours. You're thinking nightmare, right? Well I can't say it was awesome to being stuck on a train for long periods of time, I do think it's better than a delayed flight. At least I was on a train with a power outlet to charge my iPod. Over the past few years, work has been completed on the trouble stretches of track through Michigan and now it is the fastest part of the route. Trains travel at 100 mph on some portions and standing time has been greatly reduced. The power outlets are still there and come in handy when you need to keep a 3 year old entertained with an iPad. This is not to say that delays still don't happen. The last trip I made in May had us standing in a Wayne, MI rail yard waiting for another train to pass, but it's no big deal. If you need to be somewhere fast, you don't take the train anyway so sit back and relax. Listen to your iPod. read more

This train reminds of simpler times. Except most of the people wear wife beaters, pajamas, and travel with card board boxes. So I fit in perfectly. Add my flask to the mix and standing in line seems more like I'm attending a family reunion for the family that dropped me off at my parent's front door as a baby. But I digress... The train is efficient, cheap, and timely. No complaints... read more

I took Amtrak to Kansas City and back during March, and it was an awful experience. Seven hours each way in a cramped car, plus we got delayed. On top of which the lady who was seating people was awful and rude and yelled at us for sitting in a newer car which had power outlets as opposed to an old one. We had to talk to the conductor to make sure we could sit there and she STILL yelled at us. The food also happens to be awful. If you have to take Amtrak, bring your own meals. Worst part? When we got to the station to head back I realized I'd left my ticket on the train on the way there. When you lose your return ticket, Amtrak refuses to print another one for you. Instead, you have to buy a new ticket. I will never use Amtrak again. read more

Amtrak is nice to take because it's way more comfortable than flying, there's outlets, bathrooms, a cafe, etc........but honesty I can't put up with the bs that seems to occur every time I take Amtrak out of or to this station. Both my train out of and back to here from STL was literally multiple hours late, as well as was the case when I took it out to Grand Rapids both years before, and when the train is delayed by multiple hours they don't send you any warning until about 25 or 30 minutes before your original departure time......only to be told when you finally board the train that the delay was due to equipment shortage/malfunctions that happened LAST NIGHT. Seriously, I don't mind waiting but at least give me notice so maybe I can get a little extra sleep. Which would've been really nice, because, on a random side note, our main cabin attendant just LOVES the sound of his own voice and drones on the loudspeaker repeating information over and over for near five minutes at a time. I think we were told the specifics of our delay over five times. As I said guys, the facilities are nice and maybe the effort's there, but if it is I'm just not seeing it because all my experiences to and from this station with Amtrak have been really lousy. Don't go anywhere from here unless you have the ENTIRE day and a lot of patience to spare. read more

Sad how low the once mighty train service has become. The dining car - just a few years ago - was the place where one could enjoy a nice enough meal on linen tablecloths with China and real cutlery, and we could easily imagine the glamor of a "North by Northwest" movie encounter. Now, dinner is pre-made and boxed. And the food provided doesn't match the menu description. Practically inedible. I can't imagine Cary Grant and Eve Marie Saint in this version. read more

Amtrak - Trains Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hey. Do you want transportation that costs as much as a plane but is slower than a bus? Look no farther than Amtrak! Between long waits for a freight train to pass, or the toilet pipes freezing, or arriving to your destination hours behind schedule, your experience on Amtrak is sure to be a wild one. I do have to put up a disclaimer, though: My experiences refer to the trip between Chicago and Detroit. I can't speak for the east coast or the southwest or whatever. HOWEVER, when it takes 9 hours to get from Chicago to Detroit, something is wrong, and this train is never EVER on time. I absolutely refuse to take Amtrak anymore. It's not worth the rage. read more

Incompetent customer service as well as online app is equally problematic. Impossible situation! Sad commentary when we are in need of reliable train service. read more

Waiting in Chicago Union Station for the Empire Builder after taking train from St. Paul MN to Washington DC and now back. Took roomette from Chicago to DC. Very satisfied. Roomette is definitely small but works for sleeping and seating two. Train staff very pleasant and helpful. Dining car is excellent. In DC and Chicago stations we got to use lounge for sleeper passengers. Not the "ambassador club" like the airlines have but they are a nice place to wait for your train. The Metropolitan Club in Chicago Union Station is jam packed today but those who have chairs are pretty comfortable. read more

Train travel is nice. However, there always is the occasional Amtrak employee that can make you feel like the stupidest person in the world. Which is self-defeating because they need more new travelers. read more

Ridiculous. I would give it a negative rating if I could. Was I comfortable? No. Did I feel safe? Not at All. Did I get to my destination anywhere near on time? Big surprise No again. Would I get back on Amtrak if you gave me a free ride? Nope! I wouldn't even put my worst enemy on this train. We arrived to Chicago half a day later than expected. And left Chicago an hour after expected. The staff was rude the entire trip. The bathrooms were disgusting with dried liquid all over. The people didn't even check our tickets until we were moving. Amtrak is a joke. I'll pay the $50 extra for a plane from now on. read more

I've used the Lincoln service to St. Louis quite a few times in the last 6 years, and it's usually at least half an hour late to St. Louis, but early getting back to Chicago. The station is clean, with screens to tell you what section to wait in. People over 65, active duty, and families are boarded first. Hint: when they call for those people, get in line, otherwise you'll be last to board, and that sucks. Onboard in coach (i don't bother to pay for business class, even if you do get to board early) there are two outlets by the window for your charging needs, and the seats are large enough. I sometimes end up with the seat that doesn't want to recline, but it's usually not a problem. The snack car is reasonable enough, but expect to pay $2 for a soda, $6 for wine..etc. If you book early the train rides are super cheap! Seats get more expensive the closer to departure you book (just like a plane). I recommend sunglasses and a pillow, as depending on what side of the train you're on and the time of day..the sun can get really annoying. read more

My boyfriend and I took the California Zephyr from Chicago to Creston, IA on our recent Midwest vacation. I have always really wanted to ride one of these trains, as I think it could be a romantic and relaxing way to travel. Sadly, my experience did not live up to either of those hopes. The train left on time out of Chicago without issue, but as soon as we got past the first stop in Illinois, we were delayed. The conductor cited the reason as having to wait for another train to pass us, since there was only one rail. We ended up being at a dead stand-still for a full hour in the middle of nowhere. Call me crazy, but I feel like Amtrak is a large enough business to not have to be at the mercy of cargo trains coming across the country. Is it completely unfathomable to have more than ONE rail going for so many miles cross-country? Just a thought. After this hiccup, we were back on our way. Between the first delay and the next, our travels were seasoned with a woman loudly talking on her cell phone in the quiet car, unruly children running amok, and someone actually smoking in the bathroom (which is a federal offense, btw). I was looking forward to getting to have some dinner in the dining car, but we were unable to get a reservation based on how they take the reservations (sleeper cars first, then each coach car from the front backward). Therefore, our only option was to go to the lounge car for microwaved pizza, microwaved hamburgers, and chips. Yuck. Call me crazy again, but shouldn't they have enough room in the dining car to accomodate all of their passengers? Just another thought..... When we eventually made it to Burlington, IA, we were already about an hour and a half late. Because of the rising levels of the Mississippi river, there were complications at this stop and we had to take more time than usual boarding new passengers. By the time we left we were another thirty minutes late. As we were approaching Ottumwa, IA, we were informed that there would be a crew change. After about 20 minutes of sitting at this stop, we were informed that because we were late, the engineer who was supposed to be refreshing our current engineer could not work because of hour restrictions. Therefore, we had to wait for a different engineer who was on his way. 30 minutes later, it was announced that the new engineer was almost there and FINALLY, an hour after sitting in place once again, we were on our way. We ended up reaching Creston three hours late, where we had had family waiting for us since the time we were scheduled to arrive. I could not get off the train fast enough! The saddest part to me is that this was not at all an isolated incident. After seeing other people's reviews of late trains and terrible experiences, I am officially cured of my desire to ride any trains. If you are on any sort of schedule or want any sort of service, don't take the train! I was cursing myself for not just renting a car and driving to Iowa. I'll know better next time! read more

Extra brief one paragraph review of the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge in Union Station: excellent, excellent, excellent. Clean, spacious, good seating, friendly staff, snacks and drinks, good redcap service, the way to go for first-class passengers. Five stars all the way. It is what I compare the other Amtrak lounges to. Now, more generally, about Amtrak: Amtrak is one of those things. On one hand, we've managed to destroy passenger rail with the advent of the automobile. On the other hand, we say we want to encourage public transportation, so we provide Amtrak with some amount of public subsidy so that it can continue to fight it out with the freight railroads for continued access that is really not all that great, and tends to discourage ridership, which is a vicious, nasty feedback loop. Amtrak would be best served by a complete gutting and replacement with a service that ran exclusively on its own tracks and rights-of-way, with high speed lines in appropriate places, and then we might see people replacing air travel with rail travel. As it is, Amtrak has at least one hand tied behind their back, and that isn't their fault. Faulting Amtrak for delayed trains, rough rides, old equipment, and the like is simply unfair, because we've never given Amtrak the option to acquire their own rights-of-way, lay their own track (with the exception of the northeast corridor), and that means that their lines tend to be slow, requiring overnight travel, compete with freight traffic, etc. For the remainder of this, I'm going to assume that the reader can understand the difference between Amtrak's service ("bad food") and the way that society has sabotaged Amtrak so that it cannot provide good service ("no high speed rail", "delays"). Overall, Amtrak gets high marks for relaxing travel. There is nothing better than the feeling of getting on a train and knowing that you'll get to your destination, especially on a sleeper train. You'll arrive relaxed, stress-free, having had a comfortable ride. Amtrak sleeper accomodations are a bit on the functional/minimalist side, a necessary side effect of being on a train. The roomette accomodations are essentially a private cabin that transforms into a bunk bed, but turn out to be reasonably comfortable. An attendant will assist with the conversion of your cabin, or you can do it yourself. Basic meals are included, this includes two entrees, two drinks, and two desserts, but no appetizers. Oddly, while they hand out sodas in the Metropolitan Lounges and in business class, they're stingy in the diner car, making you pay for a second soda. The food is not stellar, but not bad. Reminds me of the best of airline food, such as we used to get on Midwest Express. The menu doesn't vary much, if ever, but you can get a completely acceptable meal, cost included with your sleeper. The snack bar will tend to be a little more variable. I haven't been able to find that much that's good, and on the Pennsylvanian, they seemed to plan it so that they would run out of most perishable food items shortly after noon (the "breakfasty" items ran out during the early morning hours). Service is generally quite acceptable to very good, though now and then, I've seen passengers do things that have clearly annoyed the staff, such as the gentleman who invited a lady who was in a different sleeper to split some wine(?) with him, and then ditched without paying the bill; the waiter then wanted her to pay the bill. These people work exceedingly long hours with few real breaks, and they work hard. I don't actually know how they do it without being cross all the time. Overall, enjoyable way to travel. It has its upsides and downsides, don't expect the world. read more

Went from Chicago to Austin on train 21. Got there over four hours late due to being completely stopped for either freight trains (which should NOT cause a passenger train to stop, redesign your system) or for two hours of the train being broken. Staff tried to be cute but came off condescending and crude. Pretty sure the overpriced snack bar employee was drunk and he was telling racist jokes to a group of guys with a young child in earshot. I'd spend a few more bucks to get a working air flight in the future, amtrak was not this bad before this. read more

Amtrak - Side of my train - Trains Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I wish I could rate them zero stars. Their customer service is the worst! Had to change my son's train trip due to a big snowstorm coming in and the csr I spoke with was rude and not helpful. This is not the first or only time either. They have no clue what customer service is. This is what you get with a monopoly. read more

Chicago's Union Station is beautiful! It is a major hub for Amtrak, so if you are traveling via train, you'll probably end up here with a little layover. We had 5 hours. After walking around the station, we ventured outside and found ourselves in the heart of downtown Chicago! Easy to walk to Willis Tower, and many restaurants and stores. The station has plenty of lockers in all different sizes. While they are a little on the pricey side, it was better than lugging our luggage all over the city. Don't miss the Great Hall with beautiful marble floors and pillars, and solid wooden benches to look at the architecture around you! Since we were traveling with small children, we could board our departing train early to get everyone situated. It was a very pleasant station of an extended layover. read more

Worst form of transportation that I have ever gotten to experience. Nasty trains, terrible customer service. Overpriced snacks and worthless attendants. Sat in Chicago's Union Station for three hours waiting for them to fix a computer problem. But I see why nobody rides the train any longer. read more

Amtrak is one of the worst run, government-subsidized, quasi-public entities I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. I had to go to Springfield on business Tuesday/Wednesday of this week. Thinking it would be much better to save the gas money (and the environment) by taking the train than my car down there I booked a seat on the 5:15pm train out of Union Station. The whole thing was ridiculous. The boarding process is chaotic and unnecessarily complicated. The woman who was doing the boarding never stopped shouting. She was rude, and even pushed one passengers suitcase over! We arrived around a 1/2 hour late -- not too bad, but that means it took longer than driving. With no traffic! My trip back was even worse. My train was 1 hour late arriving to the Springfield station with no explanation or apology. They don't have any boarding instructions or coherent line to board at all. It was a free-for-all. More the passenger's rudeness fault, but Amtrak could have easily remedied this. On board, the food was horrible. Like, worse even than I expected. I tried a turkey sandwich, because really, how bad could it be? Oh god, I almost threw up after my first bite it was so horrific. We were consistently stopped along the route for over 10 minutes before each stop to allow another southbound train to pass. We ended up arriving in Chicago over an 1 1/2 late. No explanation, no apology -- just get off the train. Next time I'd much rather brave the traffic and drive. read more

We were on California Zephyr from Chicago union station to Denver union station 7/19 starting from Chicago. No red caps in sight. We had to walk all the way to the front carrying baggage and I have a bad knee and COPD. when we arrived I was in a full blown asthma attack. started off great. We were told we cannot eat in dining room because of Covid . for Dinner in the Cafe. pickins were slim . Seats were uncomfortable could not sleep. On the way back we had to wait for a red cap and so by the time we got to the front of the train seats were taken. One person in each pair of seats. We did not sit together. I asked the conductor IF someone could be moved. He was so helpful the answer was no. The train was supposed to leave at 7:00 pm. It left 2:oo am. That was awful. Than toilets were broken. In order to use the facilities you had to go up and than go down. For a person who cannot walk that was awful. There should be toilets in every car. Than they said we were going to get a free dinner in the dining car because of all the problems . i was expecting something great. Beef stew tasted and looked like Dinty Moore with a little rice . The portion was so small . 2 tablespoonfuls and apple juice. My dog could have inhaled it. That is dinner? They rushed us out because they had to feed 200 people. the people who had sleepers probably had the full menu. Than a drunk guy came up to me, could not talk. slurring words and came on to me in a bad way. by the way the bell for help is only good if conductor is in your train. Great security. Asked me how old I was . I said I was old enough to be his great great grandma please leave. He finally did but of course no conductor around. 1 hour later he came and I called him over and he said they had problems with him and he was going to be removed, so many problems. Did not get to Chicago until 11:58. Train supposed to arrive around 3:00 pm. This was my first train ride and I will never do it again. A night of hell. By this time water from the toilets was on the floor. Rumor has it that Amtrak did not pay the plumbing bill. So guess no plumber no toilets. Heard they owed close to 7000.oo. really . Is THATthe way costumers have to travel???? shame shame on you. Name is RENEE SAPER RESERVATION NUMBER 412181 DATE TRAVEL TO DENVER 7/19 2PM ARRIVES 7:15 PM 7/20. LEAVING DENVER 7:10PM ARRIVING CHICAGO 2:50 PM ADDRESS 1103 E IRONWOOD DRIVE MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 60056 CELL 815-218-7260 HOME 847-797-0688 EMAIL grammysaper@comcast.net read more

Like most other modes of transportation, I've got that love/hate relationship with Amtrak. Love: It's so very cheap when I book in advance ($66 from here to Detroit and back? I'll take it!). It's roomy compared to cars and planes. When it's an off weekend, I usually get a set of seats to myself so I can sprawl and sleep and watch DVDs and read without nearby disturbance. And the cafe car has vegan Gardenburgers! Hate: There's just no telling if it's going to depart or arrive on time. Oftentimes, it's half an hour or so late on arriving because of freight traffic. Sometimes it's remarkably prompt. Other times, it's so horribly behind schedule that it makes me want to shell out the cash for a car! At Christmas time this past year, it was 3 hours late to start. Last night, it was 3.5 hours late to arrive! I think, what it comes down to most often, however, is affordability. $66 vs. $200+ for plane fare? Yeah. read more

Never again, amtrak. At least not out of union station. Last time we tried to take the train home, the lady closed the gate in front of us while the train was still in the station and wouldn't let us board because "they close the gate 5 minutes before departure" we had been caught up in traffic and arrived at the gate 8 minutes before, according to the clock in the waiting room. Ended up having to rent a car and drive home instead. Now we are waiting for the same train that is delayed for an undetermined amount of time along with three other trains here currently, all due to mechanical failures. The waiting area open seats is corded off while we are closed in like cattle in a separate area. This is ridiculous. read more

Amtrak - Nowhere to sit. Perfectly good waiting area empty. - Trains Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The ticketing clerks are always rude. I've given them chances. Never a smile, constantly disgruntled, & always mumbling (then upset when you don't hear them). Use a machine at least it will thank you. The trains are great, comfortable, and timely. Love the electrical outlets, now lets get some wifi on these things. Even Megabus has wifi. read more

I took Amtrak to Milwaukee a couple weeks ago and to St. Louis this past week and had very pleasant experiences both times! It was super cheap (a whopping $22 to Milwaukee and $95 round-trip business class to St. Louis) and a whole lot roomier than a flight. Both train rides were about a half an hour late, but I was in no rush. It gives you a great way to really see the states. I had a microwaved hot-dog and some chips on my ride and it was only $5 and actually tasted good... -1 star for the stupid heaters that are right next to your leg. I burned myself several times over the 5-hour trip to St. Louis and the car was WAY too hot...I almost died when the snack-car attendant asked for the heat to go up. This could be really very dangerous if you have kids. read more

This is not a cautionary tale .The more accomplished travel writers might have a more catchy little phrase to start a review of Amtrak's longest and preeminent train; one that's been in continuous operation for a heck of a long time. But I just can't think of one, so here goes. The good stuff first. This is a little touch of what it must have been like back in the days when the passenger train was king and not just an afterthought on a freight line. We signed up for the full experience, sleeper and the whole 9 yards. Gone are the little flowers and complimentary split of wine you'd not drink anyway, but it's clean and comfortable and ingenious the way they put 2 people, a shower, toilet and sink in such a tiny space. Leaving from Chicago and ending up in Portland, OR or Seattle, WA the train pulled into the suburban station right on time-impressive, but that was the last time for this trip it would ever be on time. We went to our evening meal with a reservation and it was surprisingly good, certainly better than the airline fare when they used to feed you. But things were about to turn dark. Let's face it things happen. People make mistakes, stuff breaks, and yes trains derail. Not ours, but hundreds of miles ahead of us a freight rain took out a good chunk of the right-of-way between Wolf Point, MT and Glasgow, Mt. It's not unheard of; in fact plenty of trains derail, it's just that there's no way to continue because it's single track out there. OK, so the train can't go any farther than Wolf Point. What to do? Well Amtrak must have a contingency, right? They must have a plan to deal with the 700 odd people on both trains (remember there's an east bound train coming along the same track) when something like this happens. Ah, and what would that plan be? Well buses for sure, and some one to organize the orderly exchange of passengers across the broken part of the railroad. And an identifiable person to coordinate the whole thing. Well, from our vantage point, the answer to all these questions was a resounding NO! If there was a contingency plan it didn't work. If there was some one in charge we couldn't identify that person, and the only information we were provided was everything would be OK in about 40 minutes! Not! Five and half hours later after standing around in 105 degree heat Amtrak finally had enough buses to move all the people. But at the other end, the train had pulled across one of the only roads accessing the station and there was no way the train was going to move, so the bus had to detour back 20 minutes and come in the back way! For what it's worth we were on the 5th and last bus when they figured this one out. But I can't leave you with a bad taste, because Amtrak seemed incompetent. There were a couple of bright spots. The brightest was a relatively new employee whose name was Ana, who despite being the low man on the ladder made most of us as comfortable as possible standing under the trees in Wolf Point, and the chef who just about emptied the galley of anything that looked like water and snacks while we waited. Indeed, somebody figured out that the local McDonald's could make food for the crowd and arranged for it to be brought to the passengers. Never mind the 2 EMS call because of heat stroke, we all survived and continued the trip to the West. PS: We never actually made it to Seattle on the train. Due to scheduling issues and the lost 11 and half hours, the train trip ended in Spokane. We were again offered buses to finish the journey: we bailed! read more

I can't even begin to explain how much I hate Amtrak. I will NEVER ride the train again. Recently, I took the train to my parents' house in Michigan. What was supposed to be a three hour trip turned into an eight and a half hour ordeal. After boarding, we sat at the station in the dark (they hadn't switched on the power) for two hours before moving at all. The Amtrak employees on board gave us no explanation for the multiple, lengthy delays, and no estimated arrival information to pass along. My stop was approximately halfway along the route, and by the time we arrived the train was already more than five hours behind schedule. The ventilation system seemed to have faltered as well- the smell of a train full of unhappy passengers trapped in stale air is not one I will soon forget. It's true that flying or driving costs approximately twice as much as riding the train, but it is money well spent. Until Megabus adds a Chicago - East Lansing route, I will be driving myself. read more

We took the Cardinal from Chicago to DC recently and was rather impressed. Amtrak usually gets a bad rap on customer service and the food on their trains, but it's not all that bad. The check in and bag check at Union Station was much easier than anticipated. Far less stressful than flying. If you purchase a sleeper car you get to relax in the Amtrak lounge prior to boarding the train. They even escort you from the lounge to your sleeper car when it is time to board the train. The sleeper cabins are small but very functional. The food in the dining car could use improvement but it wasn't bad. Overall it was a relaxing and enjoyable trip. If you are not in a hurry to get to your destination, try taking the train next time. read more

You are crazy to drive to Chicago from Milwaukee. The tolls alone are almost $10, the traffic crazy terrible and parking ridiculous. I always take the train (one of 7 round trips each day) and then get a cab for the final leg in Chicago. Now that Milwaukee Airport has been rated for air fares at half the prices at O'Hare, we'll see lots more Chicagoans taking the train to our airport, which is the stop just before downtown Milwaukee. Just hope they leave some seats for me. read more

If you love people watching and have a long distance travel ahead of you, take the Amtrak train. I've taken the train a few times back to good ol' GR and recently to Ann Arbor on the Wolverine service. Personally, I think it's much nicer taking the train to the Deuce so you can get work done, people watch, and avoid all the traffic - and you'll get there in about the same time if you drive. Let me tell you about my trip to AA. Train was packed; my friend and I had no choice but to sit near the bathrooms. Gross, right?! So, the bathroom door never stays shut and it's so disgusting to see one person after another use the bathroom and the door just swings open. You can imagine the smell is not pleasant. We resolved this problem with a childish ploy (of which I will not share here) ;-) My trip back to Chitown - just as amusing. The car my friend and I sat in was full of sick, coughing germs floating around - particularly right behind us. We got caught making faces and pulling up scarves and shirt collars over our mouths to protect us from the germs. Yes, we were immature ;) We also got to observe a man and his butt crack. Was he bending over? Nope. Just walking nonchalantly to his seat with his pants really low. Couldn't he feel a breeze? Yeah, I'll take the train again if nothing to have more great stories to share. read more

$50 Coupon to spend ON Amtrak!!!????!!! Read complaint below. This is why I wouldnt ride Amtrak train for long hauls. This is what happened on our Amtrak Empire Builder trip from Chicago to Portland, OR. And Amtrak's response. ******************************************************************* John Wojciechowski, Director Office of Customer Relations, AMTRAK 60 Massachusetts Ave. NE Washington D. C. 20002 Re: Reservation Number: 043463 Dear Mr. Wojciechowski, We have just returned from a trip on the Empire Builder from Glenview, IL to Portland, OR and back. The train had flaws--the panel separating our bedroom from our neighbors would not close all the way and there was a gap of about 1/2 inch; we could hear their conversations clearly, making it diffigult to sleep. Our car steward was not able to fix it. I like the clickety clack of the wheels on the tracks, the rough bouncing around, and the train whistle. The food was good and the service was friendly. We stayed in the observation deck all day. However, on the return trip we were in a different sleeper car--a newer one--and when we lowered the top bunk, we noticed a loud rattle in the ceiling right above the metal support strut. It was not like any regular train noise; it was separate and apart, loud intermittent sounds of metal hitting on metal. The steward said he could do nothing about it. I finally moved my head to the foot of the bed, changing the sheets and blankets. I tried to sleep with earstoppers and a pillow over my head--nothing worked. I was so upset, I finally had to take a tranquilizer; it was about 2:00 a.m. The next day I was groggy and exhausted. The following night I was determined to fix the situation so I could sleep. We worked for about 2 1/2 hours trying to muffle the sounds with blankets, pillows, etc. but no success. Finally, I pulled the metal support strut toward the bed and had my husband put his carry-on suitcase in the space between the strut and the wall by the window. It just fit and he tied a rope around it to keep it from falling. It was about 2:00 a.m. again. We were able to get a few hours sleep. We paid an extra $2,188 for the bedroom; the rail fare was $550.80. We rightfully expected to have a good night's sleep for that amount of money. The cause of the chaos was totally the responsibility of Amtrak's. We deserve to be recompensed for at least the price of two nights in the bedroom--$l,094.00. I trust that you will understand this dilemma and agree with the resolution. Thank you for your kind consideration. Sincerely, GH ********************************************************************* Response from Amtrak: Dear Ms. Harris Thank you for taking the time to contact our Customer Relations office to tell us about your concerns. We are sorry that our services did not meet your expectations and wish to take this opportunity to show you how much we value your patronage. Amtrak is committed to assuring your satisfaction when you travel as our guest. Our 20,000 employees are working hard to earn your satisfaction so that you will want to travel with us again and again. Enclosed is a Transportation Certificate ($50.00) good for future travel on any Amtrak service. We hope that you will give us another try and use the certificate as a credit toward your next ticket. It is valid for a period of one year, and the back of the certificate provides more information on how and when it may be used. As America's passenger railroad, our goal is to deliver a safe, comfortable and enjoyable travel experience to every guest on every train. Your comments have given us valuable information that will help us to raise our standards higher every day. We look forward to the priviledge of serving you in the future. Sincerely, John Wojciechowski Director, Customer Relations read more

I take Amtrak whenever possible. Depending on the destination the train is way cheaper than flying and I just really like the feeling of rolling thru towns on rails. Reading are usually very comfortable and I like that there's outlets for my phone and IPOD so the batteries dont die on me half way thru a trip. I find that listening to classical music is best when on the train. Especially when it's snowing...I love Vivaldi's the Four Seasons( winter). It just makes sense. I'll be taking the train in a few days and then again in a couple weeks. It's a great way to see the country if you have the time. I would give it 5 stars if the sleeper cars didn't rack up the price a ridiculous amount. read more

I was on the Pere Marquette service which runs from Chicago to Grand Rapids, on Sun., Dec. 21. It is usually a four hour trip. This time, it took a total of 16 hours! This train is supposed to leave at 5:20 PM and get into GR at 10:30 PM (but it's usually about a half hour late). I have taken this train countless times going back home. It's usually not too bad. The food is pretty nasty and really expensive, so I recommend bringing your own. On this particular trip, there were too many delays to count. The weather was a major factor. Also, (which has happened in the past) the crew ran out of time they were allowed to work, so we had to wait for the backup crew to come and relieve them. I was shocked to find out that the Grand Rapids Press and TV stations were covering the story. For a single person without any kids, it wasn't really all that bad. I slept through most of the trip, and the worst part about it was not being able to alter my sleeping position. I think a lot of people made way too big a deal out of it. It is true that they didn't offer any free food or water, and that the sinks in the bathrooms had started to overflow. But to see seven camera crews at the GR train station when we got in on Monday morning I thought was a bit extreme! read more

Capitol Limited between Chicago to Washington DC - as part of a CA to FL trip. We left Chicago late. The Capitol Limited was held because the California Zephyr (my 1st train) & the Texas Eagle were both late arriving. We left the station about an hour late then stopped a little bit outside of Chicago, for at least an hour, to change crews. Then we chugged on for a little bit then waited, and waited on a side rail for freight traffic to pass. I went to sleep so I don't know how long we stopped. When I awoke, were were about 4 hours behind schedule. Thinking that I had a 6 hour layover in Washington DC, I planned to meet my brother for lunch. Well we made it to Union Station with 1/2 hour to spare so I didn't get to visit. Freight traffic and late trains caused by freight traffic were the main culprits causing the delays. The Capitol Limited is a Superliner just like the California Zephyr... two story trains. The layout was the same. The food was the same. The service was not as good. I met the sleeper car attendant when we boarded but didn't see him until it was time to leave. I didn't get a chance to see the first class lounge in Chicago since we were late. But Club Acela in Washington DC was a quiet place to wait for my connection to Florida. It's available to all passengers booking a roomette. They have non-alcoholic beverages and water. You are not allowed to bring in outside food and they say they supply light snacks but there were only cheddar "goldfish" available. The nice thing is you check in at the front desk when you enter. They let you know when your train is available to board and a "guide" accompanies you to the train. The conductor checked us into our roomettes before we even walked down to find our sleeper car. There's a place to leave your luggage if you have time to wander around. read more

I take Amtak to Bloomington-Normal once a month or so. If you book far enough out, you can get fares as low as $26 RT which is cheaper than driving and much more relaxing. I used to battle the Stevenson traffic out of town in the evening and back in on Monday morning and it was a hassle, especially when it rained or snowed. The train to B-N is usually close to on time but coming into Chicago it averages at least 1/2 hour late. Cheapest prices are M-Th & Sat but even on F & Su you can travel roundtrip for as low as $34 if you book ahead. read more

So decided to take Amtrak from Chicago to St Louis instead of the hassle of flying or the filth of the bus. Big seats, mostly comfy, lots of overhead storage and..........No WiFi. Ummm even mega bus has wifi (albeit so slow you're better off with dial-up). At least there's food on the train. read more

Amtrak - Trains Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great way to get from downstate to Chicago. Club car and a good ride make this a fun experience.

This is the way to travel if you are from any of the nearby states (MI, IN, IA, WI)! Inexpensive, easy, reliable, and as fast as driving (give or take a half hour...). You can go right online and get a ticket or call the 800 number. Also, Union Station is easy to maneuver around. Grab a book and your iPod, and you are all set! Please keep in mind that you are traveling with other people, so their little "quirks" may bother you - so, get over it. Definitely recommended! www.amtrak.com read more

The Chicago Amtrak is ALWAYS on time! One time I showed up 30 seconds late, and you better believe I missed my train!