Train from St Louis to Chicago (St. Louis, Kirkwood: construction, bus, train station) - Missouri (MO) - City-Data Forum

WUSTL '14 · 07-19-2010, 07:41 PM

I remember reading several months ago about a stimulus package that would fund high-speed trains which would run from STL to Chicago. Any word on the progress? Are there currently trains running this route, or is car/plane the only way to travel between these two cities?

billiken · 07-19-2010, 07:50 PM

There's already a train. It runs from Chicago Union Station to the Amtrak station in downtown St Louis near the Civic Center MetroLink stop, with several stops in between.

Besides train, car, and plane, there's also the bus (I prefer Megabus). It picks up at St Louis Union Station, and drops off at Chicago Union Station. I kind of prefer the bus, because of the possibility of long delays with the trains (they share the track with freight trains, which have priority on the track from my understanding).

I know there's plans for the high speed rail, and it'll shave about 90 minutes off the commute. I know that IL received federal funding, but I don't even know if construction has commenced.

Keethler · 07-19-2010, 07:55 PM

I cant give you a status update regarding the high speed rail progress. I can tell you that Amtrak provides service from St. Louis to Chicago and vice-versa. It runs from Union Station in St. Louis, which is off Market St. in between 18th and 14th streets, to Union Station in Chicago, on Canal St. in the Loop. I have taken it several times. It usually takes around 5.5 hours from station to station. When you take into consideration the time it takes to fly (driving to the airport, security, inevitable hour long wait, getting baggage, then taking the Orang line into the city; Amtrak is not a bad option. I like the fact that I can show up a few minutes before departure, sit in a large seat with an A/C outlet and my laptop/heaphones out as long as I want, get up whenever I want, then not wait for baggage when it arrives. Not to mention you will almost never see a train cancelled or significantly delayed. Further, you can get very cheap tickets. Finally, it picks you up and drops you off downtown...whereas Lambert, Midway, and O'Hare are located 20 or more miles away from the business districts.
And, before you ask, I don't work for Amtrak! I just think its an underrated means of travel to and from Chicago.

billiken · 07-19-2010, 08:01 PM

^The train doesn't leave from Union Station in St Louis...there's nothing really transit related in that building. Amtrak has it's own station that's essentially next to the Civic Center MetroLink stop. They recently expanded/updated the station.

Keethler · 07-19-2010, 08:07 PM

Ah, yes, it is now called Gateway Station. Nice pick up. It is located pretty close to Union Station (now a mall).

inahandbasket · 07-19-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keethler

Ah, yes, it is now called Gateway Station. Nice pick up. It is located pretty close to Union Station (now a mall).

And for those of us in the county, the Kirkwood Amtrak station is very nice! A genuine historic throwback of an old train station in downtown Kirkwood.

inahandbasket

billiken · 07-19-2010, 08:53 PM

I really like downtown Kirkwood + Amtrak station. There's also a stop in Alton for those in the Metro East, but I've never stepped out to check it out.

moorlander · 07-20-2010, 08:23 AM

I've taken the train a number of times from StL to Chicago. It's a great time!

Keethler · 07-20-2010, 07:53 PM

St. Louis-Chicago high-speed rail project to start - St. Louis Business Journal

Here is the latest on the "higher" speed rail. If the trip is reduced to under four hours, I won't ever fly to Chicago again. Door to door, even when cutting it close, takes at least four hours.

WUSTL '14 · 07-20-2010, 11:08 PM

Thx for the update and comments. This would truly be a more convenient and cheaper way of travel compared to a flight.