Originally Posted by
GoAmtrak
At most stations, I agree. But Chicago is actually worse than even NYP: Amtrak frequently shares its narrow platforms with crush-loaded Metra trains. It's tough enough for service staff and bag handlers to safely navigate the platforms. Even more crucially, the horrible air quality and very high noise levels from the idling diesel engines in an enclosed environment are a constant threat to public health. Again, major capital upgrades are needed to make CHI's platform anywhere near the safe, pleasant, open environment found at other major cities' great terminals.
As much as I love to berate Amtrak for its overly officious, inefficient processes, there are compelling reasons in this case. One must experience CHI at peak times to appreciate the rationale here, then provide constructive feedback.
True; CHI can be very crowded, and the platforms are very narrow. However, there is no inherent requirement for the following:
* Requiring arrival at the station at least 45 minutes beforehand
* Charging $20 for coach priority boarding
* Making people line up and wait
* Requiring check-in with a station employee (even airlines don't require this!)
Amtrak needs to realize that reducing a passenger's time in the station is essential to making rail time-competitive with air or car. Amtrak also needs to take advantage of a train's main benefit in boarding: lots of doors, unlike a plane.