Union Station to ORD
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SBA
Programs: AA PLT, SPG PLT, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 256
One person, my father, who is in his mid-60's. Probably no rush arriving (assuming the train arrives on time). He's scheduled to have 5 hours or so. Shlepping one wheel bag.
#5
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K,SPG Plat,
Posts: 1,091
The other question is how much does he want to spend?
If he's doing it on the cheap, like I would, cab it over to the Jackson St. Blue Line station, and take the Blue Line to ORD. Cab maybe $5, train fare $2.25. Time, about an hour
Cab will be about $40, and depending on traffic, 30-75 minutes.
If he's doing it on the cheap, like I would, cab it over to the Jackson St. Blue Line station, and take the Blue Line to ORD. Cab maybe $5, train fare $2.25. Time, about an hour
Cab will be about $40, and depending on traffic, 30-75 minutes.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 60137
Posts: 10,498
Friends don't let friends' dads get herniated or mugged to save a few baht.
Last edited by sonofzeus; Feb 12, 2009 at 2:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: Mileage Plus Dirt, Wyndham Rewards
Posts: 316
A safe assumption more or less if he is arriving on a Metra (commuter rail) train. Not safe if Amtrak.
The Jackson CTA stop says it is handicapped accessible on the map. Since the blue line is a subway at Jackson, I would assume this means an elevator though I could be wrong. Clark/Lake, in the Thompson Center, is pretty certain to have an elevator. But don't hold me to any of this, since I don't pay attention to what stops have elevators or not.
The Jackson CTA stop says it is handicapped accessible on the map. Since the blue line is a subway at Jackson, I would assume this means an elevator though I could be wrong. Clark/Lake, in the Thompson Center, is pretty certain to have an elevator. But don't hold me to any of this, since I don't pay attention to what stops have elevators or not.
#9
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Posts: 2,210
Pops can take a city cab (metered), suburban cab (cheaper fixed price, reserved ahead only) or this.
OP, you probably have some idea of whether your dad will be comfortable in the city and with public transit or not. If he will be and can do the stairs, walking to the train is fine. Ignore the post about him getting mugged to save a few bucks, it's rush hour, it won't happen. If the stairs are not good, but the train is, cab to Jackson/Dearborn or Clark/Lake (handicap-accessible does mean elevators).
If he won't be comfortable or has mobility issues, then either cab or Airport Express is a fine option.
The other thing to mention is that he has time to sightsee (thought of this due to the threads we get here asking if X is enough of a layover at ORD to go into the city). I'd allow 75 mins to get to the airport plus whatever time he needs at the airport (ie 90 if checking bags, 120 if int'l, etc). So, if the train is on time, that 5 hours gives him a little time to wander around if he so desires.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Posts: 2,210
No, they can't. Under city ordinance, only city cabs can do that. If you check the websites of the big ones like American, you'll notice they publish rates between various burbs and ORD/MDW/downtown, but not between any of them. Notably, the fastest route (most of the time) between ORD and MDW is 294/55, outside city limits for most of the ride, but only city cabs can do it under the ordinance.
#12
Join Date: May 2002
Location: In the home of the "brave"?
Programs: Whatever will get me out of Y and into C or F!
Posts: 3,748
Metra to the rescue!
If you are already at Union Station, why not just take METRA's North Central Line to O'Hare Transfer.
Schedules here:
http://www.metrarail.com/Sched/ncs/ncs_wkout.shtml
Fare is US$3.80 one way, half that for Seniors.
At the O'Hare Transfer station, a bus (low floor, IIRC) will meet you and take you to the end (Remote Parking Station) of the Inter-Terminal people mover called "ATS" (or as I like to call it, O'Hare-VAL):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_Transit_System
Then ride that to your desired terminal.
Cheap and relatively painless!
Schedules here:
http://www.metrarail.com/Sched/ncs/ncs_wkout.shtml
Fare is US$3.80 one way, half that for Seniors.
At the O'Hare Transfer station, a bus (low floor, IIRC) will meet you and take you to the end (Remote Parking Station) of the Inter-Terminal people mover called "ATS" (or as I like to call it, O'Hare-VAL):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_Transit_System
Then ride that to your desired terminal.
Cheap and relatively painless!
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
If you are already at Union Station, why not just take METRA's North Central Line to O'Hare Transfer.
Schedules here:
http://www.metrarail.com/Sched/ncs/ncs_wkout.shtml
Fare is US$3.80 one way, half that for Seniors.
At the O'Hare Transfer station, a bus (low floor, IIRC) will meet you and take you to the end (Remote Parking Station) of the Inter-Terminal people mover called "ATS" (or as I like to call it, O'Hare-VAL):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_Transit_System
Then ride that to your desired terminal.
Cheap and relatively painless!
Schedules here:
http://www.metrarail.com/Sched/ncs/ncs_wkout.shtml
Fare is US$3.80 one way, half that for Seniors.
At the O'Hare Transfer station, a bus (low floor, IIRC) will meet you and take you to the end (Remote Parking Station) of the Inter-Terminal people mover called "ATS" (or as I like to call it, O'Hare-VAL):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_Transit_System
Then ride that to your desired terminal.
Cheap and relatively painless!
#14
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: Mileage Plus Dirt, Wyndham Rewards
Posts: 316
#15
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
Metra trains depart Union Station to O'Hare at 4:25, 4:58 (express), 5:01, 5:31, and 6:00. So even with a late arrival into Union Station, this would be a suitable choice. The 6:00 p.m. train might be cutting it a little close if the passenger has 5 hours to make the connection (presumably this means an 8 p.m. flight).
Last edited by fairviewroad; Feb 13, 2009 at 11:05 am