Chicago-Ann Arbor (Wolverine) Questions

[DR04]

I live in Chicago and belong to Zipcar. We were thinking of taking the 350 out to Ann Arbor, picking up a zipcar near the station and going up to Frankenmuth for a few hours. Then we'd head back down and take the 355 back to Chicago.

Couple questions:

1) With business class, are you assigned seat numbers with your ticket? I was wondering if there is a way I can reserve two seats next to each-other for business class...

2) Looks like there are some service disruptions in October and November as phase 2 and phase 3 construction are starting up. Will there be a greater chance of ontime arrival if I travel after the work is completed (after Thanksgiving)?

 

[Bob Dylan]

I can't advise about the Track Work in Michigan but waiting till after the Thanksgiving Rush may be a Good Idea if the Weather Co-operates!! The Wolverine Business Class Car is a Combo Cafe/Biz Class Car with the Nice 2X1 Seating , No Assigned Seats, First Come, First Served!! Also Biz Class Pax can now use the Metro Lounge in Union Station so you dont have to get in the Long Lines for Coach on the Michigan Trains! You may also want to Consider using a Red Cap, theyll get you from the Lounge to the Train before the Rush to Board by the Thundering Heard!

 

[amtrakmichigan]

! Also Biz Class Pax can now use the Metro Lounge in Union Station so you dont have to get in the Long Lines for Coach on the Michigan Trains!

When did this start?

 

[PerRock]

I personally don't find buiz class really worth the money on the Wolvereine. I did it once when it was cheaper then a later train's coach. the seating (at least in my car) was really worse then in coach, and you only get one little can of soda. The only real advantage you got (in my mind) was priority service at the cafe & now access to the metropolitan lounge.

Also I don't think there is a zipcar location near the station, you'll probably have to take the bus into downtown and get one there, just an fyi.

I don't know exactly when it happens but once it gets cold the Michigan trains switch over to being superliners so you might get one of those trains if you leave after thanksgiving.

As for trackwork I believe there are only two phases. Phase one covers Jackson East & phase 2 covers Jackson to Battle Creek. West of Battle Creek has already been upgraded. A thrid phase, if any, would probably just be testing.

peter

 

[Nathanael]

As for trackwork I believe there are only two phases. Phase one covers Jackson East & phase 2 covers Jackson to Battle Creek. West of Battle Creek has already been upgraded. A thrid phase, if any, would probably just be testing.

I'm pretty sure there are more phases of the upgrade than that, but the remaining phases might be signalling rather than trackwork.

 

[Trogdor]

Ever since the upgrade to 110 mph, Michigan trains no longer use Superliners in the winter (with the exception of the Pere Marquette, which does not operate in any high-speed territory).

 

[DR04]

Also I don't think there is a zipcar location near the station, you'll probably have to take the bus into downtown and get one there, just an fyi.

It looks like they've got ~15 cars within half a mile of the station. Is this a suitable area to walk to go pick one up?

----

And thanks so far for the help everyone. I actually live about 3 blocks from Union Station, so the fancy lounge might not be worth the extra $100 for me...I'm not sure. How early do you/can you show up in line if you do coach?

And I'm thinking we'll do after Thanksgiving to avoid construction delays.

 

[PaulM]

How early do you/can you show up in line if you do coach?

Any time after the station opens at 5:00AM. The more important question is how late can you arrive; and the answer is no later than 5 minutes before departure.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but IMHO queuing up in those long lines, especially the for the short corridor trains, is one of the dumbest things I've ever seen. Even if you are in the front of the line, unless you are a track star, you will be trampled by the herd.

The last time I was at Chicago Union Station, there was even a long line for the Hoosier, which according to CAUW (conventional AU wisdom), is almost always empty.

 

[PerRock]

Also I don't think there is a zipcar location near the station, you'll probably have to take the bus into downtown and get one there, just an fyi.

It looks like they've got ~15 cars within half a mile of the station. Is this a suitable area to walk to go pick one up?

----

And thanks so far for the help everyone. I actually live about 3 blocks from Union Station, so the fancy lounge might not be worth the extra $100 for me...I'm not sure. How early do you/can you show up in line if you do coach?

And I'm thinking we'll do after Thanksgiving to avoid construction delays.

It's sutable to walk anywhere in Ann Arbor. I guess it really just depends on how far you want to walk. I know I've seen marked Zipcar parking spots downtown. It's about a 15min walk from the station to downtown, up a fairly steep hill, so if you have any baggage I'd probably catch the city bus or a cab (both stop outside). (according to zipcar) there is a car located across the street from the main city bus terminal, in the underground structure.

peter

 

[Joe F]

I can't advise about the Track Work in Michigan but waiting till after the Thanksgiving Rush may be a Good Idea if the Weather Co-operates!! The Wolverine Business Class Car is a Combo Cafe/Biz Class Car with the Nice 2X1 Seating , No Assigned Seats, First Come, First Served!! Also Biz Class Pax can now use the Metro Lounge in Union Station so you dont have to get in the Long Lines for Coach on the Michigan Trains! You may also want to Consider using a Red Cap, theyll get you from the Lounge to the Train before the Rush to Board by the Thundering Heard!

I rode Business Class DER-CHI last week, and was allowed to wait in the Metropolitan Lounge after I arrived. However, since I was continuing on the Empire Builder in coach, I had to leave the ML and stand in line to board with everybody else rather than being led out to the train with the First Class passengers. Fortunately, it was mid-week and the crowds weren't very large.

The conductor on 351 told me that they expect track work to be completed by the end of next year, allowing 110 MPH most of the way between Porter, IN and DER. This should cut considerable time from the schedule. Does anybody know if Amtrak plans to increase their train frequency beyond 3 per day once that happens?

 

[SarahZ]

! Also Biz Class Pax can now use the Metro Lounge in Union Station so you dont have to get in the Long Lines for Coach on the Michigan Trains!

When did this start?

I noticed the change in mid-September. I can't remember where I saw it, but I was pretty shocked (and happy). It's a pretty recent change. I know they weren't doing it earlier in the summer.

 

[SarahZ]

Does anybody know if Amtrak plans to increase their train frequency beyond 3 per day once that happens?

I hope so. The Thanksgiving schedule is pretty much my dream schedule for the Michigan trains. The only way I'd be happier would be if they extended the Pere Marquette (or Blue Water) up to TC and/or Gaylord. Then I wouldn't have to drive all the way to Suckyboringville to see my family.

 

[Shortline]

! Also Biz Class Pax can now use the Metro Lounge in Union Station so you dont have to get in the Long Lines for Coach on the Michigan Trains!

When did this start?

While it's true the lounge is now available, last time I was on the Wolverine, they still made you go out to the General Boarding lines, there was no boarding from the lounge.....certainly hope that's changed, but last time it was a line from one side of the station to the other to fight your way through to get boarded when they called BC.

 

[SarahZ]

As of 10/20, I still had to go out to the main waiting area and deal with the coach line once my train was called. I walked up to the gate, though, and showed the gate dragon my BC ticket so she'd let me "cut" in front of everyone.

They always board BC with the first boarding group, so I'm going to have to set a timer on my phone to head out there before they announce boarding. By the time the lounge announces it, they're already boarding coach. The lounge announced it around 5:30, I think (the late Wolverine leaves at 6:00), so I'm going to set an alarm for 5:00 and head over to the gate so I don't have to deal with that again.

It IS nice that BC gets to wait in the Lounge, though. I'm definitely not knocking the process. I can't stand the coach waiting area, especially in the summer and winter, so it's totally worth it to just head out on my own and not be escorted.

 

[WoodyinNYC]

Does anybody know if Amtrak plans to increase the train frequency

beyond 3 per day once [the construction is finished]

Not at first.

The usual problem: The great system-wide shortage of equipment.

Even when the Next Gen bi-level coaches start arriving, that will

increase capacity per car, per train, by about 30%. But not enuff

new cars to add another frequency.

I'm sure Amtrak and Michigan DOT are working to get funding to

buy more coaches. The assembly line is open. But the Stimulus

funds are used up.

Meanwhile, are there slots available in Union Station?

If they can get an hour out of the trip time each way, maybe,

just possibly, they can squeeze in another frequency using

a train set for two round trips. That miracle will become more

possible when they take the next half hour out of the trip time.

That could come from rebuilding the route "South of the Lake"

from around Porter, Indiana, to Union Station. A great project,

will benefit 5 Michigan trains, the Capitol Ltd, and the Lake Shore.

It will take a billion or so. Write your Congresscritter. But don't

hold your breath.