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FRA, others award $7 million for Chicago Union Station construction planning
A great improvement would be to no longer ask first class passengers to walk almost the entire width of the station when leaving the their lounge to board their trains. I am thankful that I have yet to be taking a train from Chicago in the dead of winter.
Never thought that walk was that long or inconvenient; better, definitely, that the non-first class section (at least before they started to use the great hall. Place reminded me of that 1957 phone booth packed by college guys for a record.
My complaint is that the first class passengers have to walk outside until they are almost to the gate, whereas coach passengers stay inside until the go out the gate. Of course, all passengers who who ride to their car stay inside until they reach the gate. Perhaps I should claim my age and ride from the lounge to my car? I can use the exercise.
There used to be a time when the long distance trains were backed down to the track right outside the door of the Metropolitan Lounge but I guess they don’t do that anymore. I recently departed on the Capitol Limited and had to walk along the width of the station and then down the platform to my sleeper. I like the exercise but if you had mobility problems then it might be a struggle.