footballfanatic

Is 4-6 hours enough? Any rates of misconnects? Is the concern real but overblown? I’ve checked the Amtrak map and don’t see more than 2 hours being typical absent some specific and rare issue along the way. The concept of getting downgraded (even on a guaranteed connection) kinda sucks though.

Bear96

IME 4-6 hrs is *usually* (but definitely not nearly always) enough, but don't make any plans the day of or after arrival at your final destination that would cause you too much drama to miss in case you misconnect and are put on the next day's train out of CHI.

What are the exact trains you are thinking of taking?

FrensicPic

You can check connection history here:
https://juckins.net/amtrak_status/ar...onnections.php

That website allows searches for all sorts of data.
John

footballfanatic

southwest chief to lake shore limited
LA to BOS

would take capitol limited instead to DC, problem being the connection is shorter.

looking for routes that go west to east with decent connections. and totally appreciate the advice not to book anything the next day!

Bear96

What is your ultimate destination? If BOS, the Capitol Limited does not make much sense (risk of misconnecting in both CHI *and* WAS, and as you said the CHI connection is shorter) so I'd stick with the Lake Shore.

FrensicPic

Historical Data:
Jun 21 - July 20, 2021 - The #4 to #48 connection in Chicago was missed twice.
Same period - the #4 to #30 connection was missed 9 times.
https://juckins.net/amtrak_status/ar...onnections.php

hhdl

Amtrak has, in cases where a missed connection in Chicago is obvious (e.g. MX early in a trip), been known to offer a bus/van connection between stations (e.g. from Mendota or Naperville to South Bend). It's not a guarantee, and if you're the only pax who will miss it, probably less likely.

saxman66

All of the east-west long distance connections in Chicago are "guaranteed." This means all these trains are meant to connect to each other on the same day. The guaranteed part means Amtrak will get you from your ticketed city pairs in one form or another. If there's a possibility to miss a connection in Chicago, Amtrak is already looking at alternate travel or hotels. Sometimes, they may take you off early like Galesburg, IL and bus you to somewhere in Indiana to catch up. Sometimes, they will hold the connecting train as long as that train doesn't get too delayed. The last option is they will put you in a hotel in Chicago and send you on the next days train. They'll give you food and taxi voucher as well if this happens. Lastly, the Lake Shore Limited is pretty much the "clean up" train. It's the last eastbound departure for the night, so they could put miss connects from the Capitol, and Cardinal on their depending on destination. It's best you book the LSL anyway if your final in BOS.

footballfanatic

incredibly helpful. Swapping a bedroom for a bus isn’t ideal!

footballfanatic

very helpful!