Chicago Union Station

Great station and the main hall is stunning! Very well located (downtown), if you are visiting the city, you can go to most of the attractions on foot. They offer trains to many different destinations, and is easy to move around. Last time I went, they were doing some renovations, but the restaurant area was separate from the main hall. There are good places to eat, but very difficult to find a seat, since it’s not a big area and there are not enough tables. Security is great, but unfortunately there are many homeless people inside, and often people smoking close to the entrance. They offer some amenities as well, including a portable battery to charge your phone for rent. There is a great gift shop, and a few other stores as well. In general, it is a good station!

Chicago Union Station is always impressive, but it truly shines during the holidays! The grand architecture, with its soaring ceilings and elegant details, is even more magical when adorned with festive decorations and twinkling lights. It's like stepping into a classic holiday movie! This station is not only one of my favorite buildings in Chicago, but it’s also a top filming location for a reason. The timeless beauty and cinematic atmosphere make it unforgettable. Whether you're traveling or just stopping by to admire the space, it's a must-see, especially during the holiday season. Union Station perfectly captures the charm and history of Chicago. Highly recommend visiting to soak in the holiday spirit and appreciate one of the city’s architectural gems!

Chicago Union Station is a massive transportation hub. The building is amazing and beautiful and overall a great piece of American History especially from the railroading days of the early 1900s. The main hall is massive with huge columns and high ceilings with wide open large skylights. They also have a ton of shops and restaurants so you can get food before getting on the train or pick up last minute supplies like snacks and drinks. And if you need help or have any questions about any of the train service, the staff are helpful and knowledgeable.

Architecturally a gorgeous building. Lots of food options. A little confusing to get around because it's so huge. The signs help somewhat except that lots of areas were under construction. However, there are people to ask.

Main hall is absolutely gorgeous and the food is great and the station is calm and welcoming and lots to look at 9 outta 10

Every time I come here it’s under construction and I get completely lost because they don’t put construction detour signs up anywhere. Even finding the damn bathroom is a fight. I upped the star because I like the Amtrak Lounge.

Came on Amtrak to Chicago from Minnesota. It was a good trip. Staff as nice. Friendly. Train was clean. Restrooms were clean. The return trip boarding was a little confusing but quick.

One of Amtraks main train stations so i would hope its good and yes its very good and the lounge is good too but even outside the lounge its a good place to wait for your train and has a decent selection of food options to pick from

It is a pretty cool Station, I love the beautiful architectural /Interior Design of this station with the tall ceiling and Great Hall, This station is similar to Penn Station / Pennsylvania station -Moynihan Train Hall in New York City, it serves Metra Trains, CTA subway lines "the L" ( Red & Orange line ) and also the Greyhound Bus Lines, Mega Bus Lines, Amtrak Trains. I board the Amtrak from New York City ( Lakeshore Limited) Big shout out to Phil & Armando who was on my Train, cool guys. This was my first time traveling on Amtrak. It was a pretty cool way of traveling!!!! The Christmas Tree decorated in the middle of this station was beautiful, with all the Trains signs as an ornament on the tree, Two Thumbs up to Chicago Union Station for putting up that Christmas tree during the holiday 2024 season !!!!

We took Amtrak from Milwaukee to Chicago and everyone was wonderful. I have my son with me, they helped with bags and making sure we got on safe. From Chicago we are going to New York City and coach is a mess. No one helped anyone (there were people who were handicap and women and children) and all Amtrak did was yell at everyone about their bags. No assistance, nothing. Why even have a bag check if no one is going to check bags and help. I struggled so bad getting on with my two year old. Then the doors to the connecting carts weren't closing and we went through a SNOW STORM. Luckily I brought 3 blankets and pillow and it was still freezing in our cart. Being late, couldn't help it because of the snow. The only person helpful was the lady running the cafe. If you ride coach, you can not have access to the dining cart. I thought that was so weird. No one was in there and we couldn't sit down and order like a Restaurant. I don't mind paying for food. I took my mom on a 60th birth trip and I'm super disappointed in this Amtrak.

First of all, if you haven't taken an Amtrak for local travel, please try it. I love taking the train. It's such a peaceful way to travel. There's an observation car with tons of windows. It's typical really affordable (of course depends on demand and distance). And someone else is driving!! Union Station in Chicago in particular is pretty clean always busy and undergoing renovations to be updated .

Beautiful, historic station. It's decorated for the holidays with a giant tree in the main hall. Clear signage throughout and friendly staff to help with questions. I found it easily accessible and not at all difficult to navigate. Haven't been on an Amtrak train in many years but this was a great nostalgic experience.

A cup full of moments I spent changing my life at Chicago's Union Station. Or an omen that's it's freezing outside?

Ewww, no. I'm through here all the time and the station keeps getting worse. I appreciate that they are doing a lot of construction so hopefully long term it will be better. That said, it's consistently grimy, has poor way finding, and the station workers are uniformly unhelpful and rude. Also, Amtrak has removed ALL the waiting room seating in its area. So you stand, or sit on the floor (yuck).

We had a great experience at the Amtrak lounge. The station is beautiful with lots of personal available to help with any questions.

It was my first time ever traveling through Union Station recently and I was a little apprehensive after reading some reviews. Luckily, I had a good experience both arriving and departing. When I arrived, I just followed everyone up and out, no issues there. When it was time to head back to Grand Rapids, I arrived to the area where the station is to grab some food nearby before heading in. The main hall is so beautiful and I saw lots of people taking photos. I wasn't really sure where to go, so I asked a nice employee who was very helpful - he told me to wait in the main hall and they'd announce the departure and then we could head to the gate. The overhead announcements were really hard to hear in the echoing hall, but they walked around and yelled them out, which was helpful. There is a lot of seating in the main hall but it was pretty crowded. I was able to find a spot on a bench to eat my lunch and then went to the gate about 30 minutes before departure. Everything was smooth and I got on my train on time!

We traveled in here from KC, and I can't say I can give the perfect picture of what this Union Station is like because it was heavily under construction. You come in to a dark, but also somehow blindingly, fluorescent lit tunnel and trek a ways up to the baggage area. It was quite tricky to navigate with all the suitcases, and the baggage claim looked and sounded like it was nearly a hundred years old. The whole thing felt like a fever dream of dark, light, noise, and confusion. There were exposed air ducts and trash bags up on the ceiling. Fortunately there is a bus transit center attached to Union Station that we were able to wait for our bus to take us to the hotel. That was nice and convenient. Would like to get the full experience sometime, but I'm afraid I can't keep trusting Amtrak after nothing but delays, so this might have been my only crack at it.

Due to construction it's difficult to get in here through the right entrance. Due to me having a sleeper car I was able to have access to the lounge, which is very nice and they had plenty of snacks..

Stately Christmas tree this December greeted passengers. I've been taking Amtrak out of Chicago Union station for 20+ years. Back in college, I often took it to get to school or visit friends. But lately I've been using the metropolitan lounge so I can't speak to what the rest of the waiting areas are like these days. I had a sleeper car so it was complementary for me. I left my luggage in the storage near the front desk, which felt safe enough. The bathrooms are ample and clean. Multi stalls on the main floor and a single room (one for men, one for women) upstairs. There are complementary snacks but nothing exciting. Some chips and granola bars. I appreciated the soda although they also have water and coffee. With two floors, there's plenty of space, from my experience to spread out. Options of tables and chairs or various softer chairs. When it's time to go to the train, there's a PA announcement to get our stuff and line up.

LOCOMOTIVE BREATH Chicago's Union Station is one of the nation's busiest railway hubs, and it's a legendary building in its own right. ______________________ ***REVIEW #1,200*** ______________________ From The Untouchables to My Best Friend's Wedding, Silver Streak and The Sting, few buildings in the Windy City have clocked as much screentime as Union Station, and even fewer boast the architectural grandeur of this commuter rail terminal. Because I'm a total nerd when it comes to Yelp, I always like to review something special whenever I hit a hundredth milestone--DC's Museum of American History was #600, the world's longest roller coaster was #1,000--so without the luxury of being able to vacation in a cool new place, this time I had to choose something closer to home. Union Station is Amtrak's main transit center for the Midwest and it's 1 of only 7 in the USA with a dedicated lounge for travelers, much like American Airlines' Admiral's Club. The average combined ridership (departures + arrivals) routinely surpasses 3 million passengers annually. One of the most recognizable features is the Great Hall with its massive Corinthian columns, long wooden benches, marble floors, and those famous staircases that saw Kevin Costner's Eliot Ness engage in a shootout with Capone's mob in Brian de Palma's 1987 crime drama (the one with the baby carriage and all those Tommy guns). Fun fact: two large statues titled 'Night and Day' are perched high above commuters in the Great Hall. 'Night' has closed eyes holding an owl, 'Day' holds a rooster while looking out towards the horizon, and between them, they stand for the 24-hour nature of railroad operations. Union Station has 30 different platforms, which is 2nd-most in the country (NYC's Grand Central Terminal is 1st with a whopping 44 platforms). There's no direct connection to Chicago's "L", unlike most other cities that tie into subways, streetcars, or elevated light rail systems. The mezzanine level is home to a food court and various small shops where you can find Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Nuts on Clark, Chick-fil-A, Dunkin', Jersey Mike's, McDonalds, Sbarro, Starbucks, and a large sports bar called The Junction. Huge fans are set up to keep air flowing, since it can get sweltering during summer and there's no A/C on the lower levels, to my knowledge. Union Station will be celebrating its centennial next May, which speaks to its longevity and the city's ability to tastefully touchup without completely remodeling, unlike how they did Soldier Field dirty (once revered, now an eyesore). Expect to see some banners in mid-2025. * TL;DR * I've seen wealthy businessmen sharing a bench with hobos in the Great Hall, witnessed reunions of true love on train platforms and - on more than one occasion - sprinted to catch a train only to miss it by THAT much. Whether coming in from the western suburbs on the Metra or returning from Purdue on the Hoosier State Amtrak, I've been through Union Station plenty of times over the years. One of my favorite memories is sitting in the Great Hall a few days before Christmas 2008, watching holiday travelers after finishing my first wave of college finals. It's the look, the feel, the efficiency, the history, the unique Art Deco fonts and overall "je ne sais quoi" that makes Union Station a one-of-a-kind place and the true beating heart of Chicago.

0 station is iconic.  It is a Chicago landmark and has been featured in several movies. You can take a train to almost anywhere from union station. Hop on a train to nearby suburbs or cities or make it an adventure and go cross country by train. Take your time and walk around the building.It is a Chicago landmark filled with great architecture and design. Don't be afraid to explore the corridors or even take a tour.  Union Station is overflowing with history. It's a beautiful building and must be seen in person to truly appreciate it.

Iconic is the first that comes to mind. Well put together, and nothing really bad to say. I didn't get to view the food hall, but I assume it's decent. It's walking distance to the Wills Tower and many other eateries. Itching to actually arrive on an Amtrak train for official travel business

They allow women to use the men's restrooms and think nothing of it. It's dirty usually. They did not handle the St.Patrick's crowd well at all.

The central hall of this train station is beautiful, stunning, gorgeous! Here are some more of the same pictures that everyone else has added :'). Outside of the central hall, the rest of the train station is a bit more chaotic and confusing. Having been in and out of Chicago Union Station dozens of times over the last decade plus, I have become well-versed in how it all works, but even today I still don't know exactly where I'll be when entering from one of the multitudes of entrances. There could be better signage to navigate through as well. Honestly if there was just signage from all entrances to the central hall, that'd probably be most helpful to orient from there to anywhere else. I like that they changed logistics at some point in the last 5 years or so to direct people waiting for trains to wait in the central hall, and then proceed to the boarding areas only when the train is there and ready for boarding. I think this has helped reduce huge crowds and lines in the southern/northern departure halls. Boarding your train is always a smooth process. Multiple humans will be there to guide you from the great hall to your train gate and make sure you get on the right one. You board first and then tickets will be checked later on the train after departure, which keeps boarding time short. The food court area in the station has many options for a quick grab and go meal or snack, as well as more of a sit down restaurant/bar. Not a lot of healthy options though.

First time taking the train to Chicago. Even with renovation/construction everything was pretty smooth and seamless. The train is a good new option for when we wanna play in Chicago!

Busy, Busy, Busy. Chicago is the main hub of the nationwide Amtrak train system, and would be the required stop if you wanted to travel across the country coast to coast by rail. We came in from Los Angeles after a 2 night journey on Amtrak, and lo and behold, right at afternoon rush hour on a Wednesday, so things were hopping. Because of the rains in Los Angeles, we were a little more than 2 hours late. Once you get off of Amtrak, you have a bit of a walk to the indoor station. I think if we had waited, we could have been picked up by the Red Hat shuttle/cart service, but we didn't have many bags so enjoyed walking the outside platforms. We had checked two bags in Los Angeles, so needed to go to the baggage claims area of Amtrak to get our bags. We found the area by sign, and asked a nearby employees; "Where do you pick up bags?". She smiled and pointed...we had been right next to a baggage carousel (exactly like what you would see at the airport, only smaller). The baggage came within the promised 20 minutes, and then we were off to find the Metra lines that would take you to the suburbs. We had checked the schedule of the Milwaukee District West line, and knew that we had less than 10 minutes. The line we wanted was the express, which would get us to Hanover Park in less than 40 minutes. After asking and a few wrong turns, we found a kiosk to purchase the two tickets (you have to type in the from/to and will be charged based on distance....it ended up being $6.75 per one-way ticket). The trick was to find the right platform...we asked an employee who helped us by checking the timetable...the weird thing is that the Metra website had the schedule and status, but didn't list the platform for each train (one would think that if the platform choices are so stable that a printed pamphlet would be accurate, they could show it on the site). Metra uses the 2 decker cars (similar to what Metrolink uses in LA)...it wasn't too crowded so able to find a seat near an empty space to hold onto our luggage. There was a small illuminated 20th century technology sign telling the stops, so we knew were on the right train. They left EXACTLY at 5:10, and it was a quick trip. It was only later I realized that the Chief stop before Union station is Naperville, which is actually a short Uber ride to where we wanted to finally go. But, it was planned this way, and ended up being a good experience. Just wish we had a little more time at the station to check things out (including the Amtrak lounge that we could have gone to).

I'm surprised I have reviewed the train station yet!? It's a maim Metra and Amtrak hub (different sides of station). It's a great place to people watch. In the main hall, you must see the architecture and designs if you can. It opened in 1925, so there's a lot of history here. They have a number of events that are held here annually. There's also restaurants sprinkled about the station (mainly fast food), but they do have a Chick-fil-a now. They have small beer kiosks if you need something to go. The bathrooms can be extremely disgusting, though. I think they're worse than the airports. I saw things I wish I could unsee. It's a large station, but it's easy to navigate if you're worried about getting lost. Like any other big city location, watch yourself and don't let your kids wander off by themselves.

The history and architecture of this building is amazing! It's over 110 years old! I love the historical significance of this building! Yes, it could use some better signage to more easily navigate where to go. Ladies everywhere are used to standing in line for the ladies room in all kind of public places. The bathrooms here are small and the one I went to had one stall that was out of service. The line for the ladies room was quite long outside. I really enjoyed the beautiful architectural details of Chicago's Union Station.

The staff are helpful, the food options are decent in the food court, but the security is not good at the food court. I was actually robbed of 500 dollars by 2 con artists inside the food court. If you encounter men claiming to represent the bucket drummer group, then they are in fact thieves. Avoid them at all costs.

Chicago Union Station is always consistent love being able to come in from Milwaukee without having to drive and worry about parking. Station is under construction a few escalators were non-functioning, hoping that the updates are complete soon. I can't wait to see the finished product.

The staff is friendly and the environment is very inviting would recommend for your travel needs!

This was my first time using AmTrack and I will say I was pleased with my experience! I wasn't sure what to expect. I came from an extremely small station with just a vending machine so Union Station having multiple food and beverage options was a huge bonus! I will say the food court area was not clean, however, we were able to easily find a table and wipe it off with some napkins before using it. Employees were helpful in aiding us to find where to go.

An iconic building and the hub for train traffic for the western part of the US., Chicago's Union Station was originally designed by Daniel Burnham and completed by Graham, Anderson, Probst and White. A magnificent building worthy of the city's status as a national railroad hub, it is a treasured part of Chicago history. The architecture in the grand hall is beautiful, the amount of traffic going in and out of here is staggering and the amenities available are surprising. There are places to eat, areas to hold private events, areas to shop, and more. It is a wonder to behold and one of the truly iconic building in Chicago.

Chicago Union Station is a historic 5 story building, its to the hub station for the mid west , the is a very busy station, you have to stop here to transfer to go further east of west,its located next to the Chicago River. The architecture is so pretty, this building is famous for filming movies like the 1987 the Untouchable plus private event, the food court is on the 2nd floor, there are mobile qube that are located though out the building to charge cell phones. Up on me arriving here was no problem at all, departing was so confusing, there was not enough seats, and when to board my train took a lot of patience, Amtrak is the main rail here there is also Metra and a commuter rail. I fail to mention that this station is as busy and crowded as LAX.

Very lovely, as far as Landmarks go. Very busy train station with a decent food hall. Would recommend stopping in if you have the time, but be mindful of others just "passing through." I expect some sketchy things happen from time to time, and It would also explain the large amounts of security.

I took the train into Chicago and it dropped off at Chicago Union Station, but whatever way I came out didn't pass through all the beauty of the station at all, so I had no idea how stunning it was going to be before I came back here to get the train to leave the city! Had I known, I would've come to Union Station earlier to sit here and vibe, rather than stay in the lobby of my hotel! This place is beautiful and stunning and so CAVERNOUS! Tons of sunlight during the day, beautiful architecture, and just an abundance of space, which I loved! I was here on a Monday (Memorial Day), so it was extremely sparse and not at all populated, so I can't speak to how busy it might be normally, but everything was very organized as well and easy to navigate to my Amtrak platform as well. I absolutely loved it here and can't wait to take the train in and out of this station again soon!

What a gorgeous tourist attraction. When I got off the Amtrak undeground and made my way upstairs, the Union Station greeted me upon my arrival to Chicago. The moment I stepped through the doors and into the Great Hall, the noise of the train station fell away, and gave way to the soft jazz music playing in the great hall. It really felt like one of those video game moments where you enter a new area on the map and the music and ambience changes. What a lovely portal to step through to enter Chicago.

It is one of the best, most eye-opening places to explore. You walk in and go, "woah."

Oh when the saints come marching in...its to the beat of an Amish man chucking a grin. Hey yall, I've been wanting to tell you about my friends at the Chicago Union Station! One time, I went to New York on a whim. Knowing that I was leaving my family behind, I chose to walk on faith and do something heinous. Becoming a New Yorker. It was smelly, hard, nasty and grim. I'm talking about the Amish Man sitting in front of me...I only say Amish because of the self Identifying beard, suspenders and grin. If you are ever doing something Amtrak-ish...try avoiding men going to Milwaukee...they'll buy you pizza and coke and disappear. I love Tilly of the Blue Line...please tell him I said that. Love, #sandracoinent as seen on Linkedin

This iconic Beaux Arts building designed by Daniel Burnam is a massive edifice by the river. The waiting room with its soaring glass ceiling has wooden benches which look uncomfortable, you are encouraged to arrive 30 minutes prior to boarding. I chose Business Class tickets instead which admit you to the Metropolitan Room prior to boarding. There are plenty of tables and comfortable seating, tvs and outlets to plug in. They also have complimentary chips and sodas.

I arrived an entrance from my Lyft that was difficult to enter due to construction that has been going on for more than 2 years. It was very confusing to find where to go once inside. It was completely empty until I got to the tracks. There was nowhere that indicated which track my train was on. Apparently, that's only visible in the upstairs area far from where I was dropped off. I was looking at signs for any indication of my train number but it only had destinations that weren't familiar. I went to look for where to ask and by that time my train had left. There wasn't another to my destination for 5 hours. I ended up having to get greyhound tickets instead. Such a waste of time and completely preventable by providing useful information. I got a text before my trip that said where to wait but nothing about which track. That would have made all the difference.

There is not much to say about this station, but the simplicity of it is what makes it so wonderful. A true Union Station, where both METRA and Amtrak come together based on several freight company lines, all come together. It is also the central of the four major terminals in the downtown Chicago area; Millennium, La Salle, Ogilvie, and this one, Union Station. Truly an architectural masterpiece, where less is more, this stands out. It is super easy to navigate, the Grand Hall is a thing of beauty to walk around, and there are plenty of decent food options nearby. It is no wonder several films had scenes take place here, it is beyond picturesque. I could go on how The Untouchables was filmed here, and how the Grand Staircase is a marvel in that regard, but that would not be doing this station justice. It is a work of art that should be preserved to remind generations that rail travel was, is, and will always be part of the American drive to be great.

Recently traveled out of here. Building was beautiful but under renovations. Was a little confusing to navigate at first but once you get the lay of the land it gets better. Employees inside were helpful. Centrally located to many tourist attractions.

Nice clean station to catch a train. Food available and an Amtrak lounge if you qualify. Easy Uber ride from most downtown hotels. Plenty of people people to help with train information.

Chicago has a nice Union Station west of the Loop, the downtown area. It seems kind of like Grand Central but smaller. Much less busier as well. Amtrak is the main train here but there's also other methods of transportation to catch. The place has lots of classic architecture so if you're into old school Beaux Arts check it out. It has a lot of history as far as transportation and Chicago goes. Lots of trains go through here on Amtrak, and there's also the local Metra. This has been the setting for lots of movies. A lot of movies have been filmed here. The best known is the Untouchables where they're on the stairs in that classic scene. It may not be as exciting without all the shootouts and runaway baby carriages but this is a fun place for those especially into old architecture. The old hall is the best part. A lot to check out around here. It has stops on Amtrak and Metra. There's also plenty of bus stations.

This place is completely chaotic.....No tipe of organization whatsoever.... asked the baggage to hold my Suitcase because I had a 4 hr layover.... explained to them I will back for it before My train departs....Go back to get my suitcase....and it's gone....One guy at the baggage center....the Same One that didn't have an issue taking my tip for holding the bag,.Plays completely dumb and was like what Suitcase "".. I was like listen I was just here...3 hrs ago told you and your partner I will be back for my luggage...They said its on the train... unbelievable.... complete opposite of what I requested... Conductor was rude.... They lie about your breaks to stretch your legs at stops...Not helpful whatsoever.... Will never take this connection again... Completely ghetto and Don't appreciate there Customers and passengers..... Hire competent individuals.... your service is completely trash.

I arrived to Chicago's Union Station on Friday June 16th from Indianapolis. It was my 1st time ever being in Chicago's Union Station especially to ride Amtrak train. When, I arrived at the Union Station it was very busy, from having the Chicago local trains, Greyhound, and just people trying to catch their trains. It was very easily to get lost in the Union Station, love the history, the beautiful giant columns, and you had to be there to see the actual beauty of Chicago's Union Station. The food court is on the upper level, where I had McDonald's twice when I was at the Union Station. The food at the Union Station is definitely pricey, but the food I had at McDonalds was always fresh & hot, and the restaurants at the Union Station stay busy. Oh, the beautiful Great Hall is beyond beautiful, and on June 16th someone was getting married. Then, when I arrived back from my train trip on June 26th in the Great Hall when it was very busy a couple was taken their engagement pictures. The Great Hall can be rented out for weddings, photo shoots, private events. Etc. Next time you're in Chicago checkout their Union Station.

Absolutely beautiful architectural masterpiece! We came here to catch the Empire Builder Amtrak train to Seattle but I've always wanted to visit this station just to see its beauty in person. We arrived early enough so I could wander around the Grand Hall and study everything. You have to walk slowly and just feel the history of the building seep into you. You can't help but look up and around. I wasn't the only one there taking it all in. Even if you're not catching a train to anywhere, you really need to just step into this building and feel the history. It's well worth a trip to Chicago.

Two stars because it is historic, beautiful, and been in so many movies. But like a lot of movie stars, Chicago Union Station doesn't have a great personality when you meet face to face. Workers here are cynical, jaded, and disgruntled. And they will take their frustrations out on you. It's hard to figure out their gate system even if you come through here a lot. They cut off boarding suddenly soon after they start boarding so make sure you are in the right place at the right time. There are often delays. Other stations like Milwaukee are much nicer, it's like they are completely different companies. There aren't enough seats for everyone waiting. Restrooms are busy and more than a little scary. Wear a mask and bring hand sanitizer. Try to avoid eating here.

I did not get food at union station. How ever the service was pretty good. The architecture is amazing ! Four stars

The station is beautiful, with a grand waiting room evoking the best of the golden age of rail travel. Sadly, Amtrak Mid-West seems hellbent on snuffing out that nostalgia. As soon as you need to board a train you encounter Amtrak's desire to bring the worst of air travel to train travel: Nylon ropes restrict all passenger movement through two lounge areas, where one is forced to wait cheek by jowl with the whole train. Despite the train being at the track one must wait until an Amtrak employee lets you through the "velvet" rope. There is no discernible reasoning for this herding of people, which only delayed our train's departure by nearly 10 minutes. Next, rather than selling assigned seating on the train, a junior conductor queries each passenger as to their destination; shunting them to the appropriate train car. In the end one pulls out of Chicago with a bitter taste in your mouth, the glories of the station long forgotten and the raised blood pressure, inefficiencies, and cattle like treatment foremost in mind. Amtrak needs to seriously look at best practices for train boarding from railroads, not Spirit Airways. Not just foreign railroads, but other US cities could teach Chicago how to make boarding a train there pleasant enough that one would want to return.

Historic Neoclassical building that occupies a full city block in downtown Chicago. It is the fourth busiest rail terminal in the US. The Great Hall is massive. Two statues, "Night" and "Day" by Henry Hering, represent the round the clock service offered by the railway. "Night" holds an owl, while "Day" holds a rooster.

The best way to get to Chicago from Metro Detroit is to take the Amtrak to Union Station. No hassle of driving, no need to pay a ton for parking. My only complaint about union station is that the waiting areas down by the platforms are crowded. More people should stay on the upper floor to enjoy the beautiful architecture.

Did not use actual use union station services. Instead, I went there to appreciate how beautiful it is. It was incredibly iconic and just beautiful, too if you enjoy architecture.

One of the biggest train stations in the US, and one of the coolest. Customer service can be hit or miss. Be sure to check the boards for when and where your train will leave, and PLEASE get there with plenty of time because it's a HUGE train station and it can be easy to get overwhelmed, especially if you cut it close.

The workers are very unpleasant the police officer is very unhelpful it was a tremendous unpleasant experience visiting this beautiful building

Rode the train for the first time today and have been sitting on the track not moving for an hour