Checked baggage
 

Hello.
In August I'll travel from New York to Chicago using Lake Shore Limited and I would like to check one or two pieces of baggage.

I'll arrive to New York one day before from London and I will be accomodated in airport hotel. In the morning (ca 9 AM) I'd like to go to see NYC, but I don't wanna carry my baggage around the city. My question is - can I check my baggage at 10:00 AM when my train departs at 15:00 AM?

When I'll arrive to Chicago, where should I pick up my baggage?

Is there anything else that I have to do when travelling by Amtrak except checking my baggage in and coming to train about 15 minutes prior to departure? :)

Thanks in advance for your help, this will be my first train travel in the US.

finding the info you seek
 

On page 2 of the AMTRAK forum you will find a thread dealing with baggage at New York Penn station. It should answer all your questions.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8703e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/104)

the810, bags can be checked in early (even the day before train departure, if desired). I've never been to Chicago Union Station, but just look for signs directing you to "Baggage Claim," or something similar. (You can always ask an Amtrak employee, if in doubt).

If you have some baggage that you do not want to check through to Chicago, but do not want to carry with you as you tour Manhattan, you can day-check it for a small fee at the Amtrak Baggage Office (the same place where you will check your other baggage through to Chicago).

Leaving NYC, the best views will be on the left side of the train, with spectacular views of the Hudson River, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and a brief glimpse of Sing Sing Prison. When the train turns west after Albany/Rensselaer station, there will also be occasional views of "Clinton's Ditch" (a/k/a the Erie Canal) from the left side of the train.

Are you booked in a sleeper compartment? If so, you will have access to Amtrak's "Club Acela" lounge at Penn Station, and the Metropolitan Lounge at Union Station. You just have to show your ticket.

Enjoy your trip!

If indeed you are in a sleeper, in addition to using the lounge to wait for the train once you do return to Penn Station, you can also store a bag in the lounge for free. Don't leave anything valuable there however, as it is unsecured.

I would also recommend planning your return to the station with a bigger cushion than 15 minutes. That could be cutting things close for the LSL, especially if something goes wrong with the means that you are using to return to the station.

And other than picking up your tickets, something that you'd need to do before trying to check your bags as they'll want to see the tickets, there is nothing else that you need to do prior to boarding the train. There is no "checkin" like there is in an airport. There will be a person at the top of the escalator going down to the track level who will want to quickly glance at your ticket to ensure that you are boarding the correct train, but otherwise there is nothing else that needs to be done.

As for Chicago, when you arrive into Chicago the train will most likely pull in on one of the stub end tracks. As you walk down the platform when you get to the end you'll have to turn left to reach the station. Just keep walking straight ahead. IIRC you'll go up a small incline/steps and then the hall will turn to the right. Baggage claim will be on the right inside a big room. They have airport style luggage conveyor belts that the bags will show up on after they're unloaded.

Thanks for all advices :)

Indeed, I have sleeper ticket. I know about Club Acela, but I'll probably go to city instead :) Of course, I'll allow some time when arriving to station, I just needed to know if there isn't some rule like "you have to be in train, X minutes prior to departure" :)

Maybe two more questions:
- How long I'll have to wait for baggage in Chicago?
- In sleeper car, is there some kind of key to lock my bedroom (when I travelled in Europe, from Vienna to Berlin, room wasn't lockable from outside, only from inside)?

Thanks a lot :)

1. In my experience, baggage in CHI is quick. Hasnt ever taken more than 15 minutes from the time you arrive.

2. Sleepers lock from the inside only.

Enjoy your trip...

Thanks again :)