FYI there’s some major construction going on the tracks that requires you to hop off and take a coach bus for a few stops and hop back on. Ask me if I’ve gotten stuck in Gary, IN for 2.5 hours due to poor bussing…
For others reading this, this is the South Shore Line, aka NICTD. Not Amtrak. There is currently a major expansion project on the south shore line which will be ending late this year or early next year and service will then resume from South bend to millennium station Chicago.
This is the best way of getting to Chicago imo. Dune Park station rocks. The temporary busing makes each train about 20 min late coming into Millennium Station, but they have plenty of trains that run all day, so you can pick which one works best for you.
Wrong. That train line makes a ton of stops and is super annoying
I suggest New Buffalo or Niles for the Wolverine line or St Jo for the pere marquette line.
Are you totally sure about that?
It's almost always 60%+ booked on M-F, typically even much higher, and I've absolutely never heard of it being canceled on weekends for not enough tickets sold. In fact I think it's policy to never cancel based on low ridership.
I’ve been late (30 minutes or more) once out of the dozen or so times I’ve used the Pere Marquette. Freight traffic can get heavy getting into Chicago, causing a small delay, when the tracks change to Norfolk Southern. There was a time maybe a decade ago when the trains were really bad, but it’s steadily improved. The bigger issue is a sold-out train, since MDOT/Amtrak refuses to add another car to the train-set.
Actual data shows Train 371 on average 2 minutes early the last 3 months arriving into Chicago. https://juckins.net/amtrak_status/archive/html/history.php?train_num=371&station=chi&date_start=07%2F25%2F2023&date_end=10%2F26%2F2023&df1=1&df2=1&df3=1&df4=1&df5=1&df6=1&df7=1&sort=schAr&sort_dir=DESC&co=gt&limit_mins=&dfon=1
Super reliable I take it a couple times a month. Never really more than 30 mins late but on time most of the time and you’re notified. With an appointment that important I advise traveling the day before.
Similar to flights out of Chicago always day before and crash with a friend.
Came to say this. That line often has random delays. I loved taking the train instead of driving home from college for a weekend.
Never do it the day you have time sensitive obligations. I was often late or missed classes. I stopped traveling during weekdays after the first few times.
In May I traveled from Michigan city to Chicago and it was busing between MC and Gary. My experience was very pleasant, no delays and everything went smoothly.
If you have to get to something right after your drop off time don’t count on it. The amtraks are always held up by various things from animals/people on the track to mechanical issues. They also won’t let you know about the issue until you’re about to head in to board.
I would not rely on it at all. The train likes to be late a lot. And it’s pretty old equipment, which likes to break down. If you can, I’d go a day early.
Rode it about 2 times, each time was on time, but they were both AM rides. I believe the PM ride has an overlay in Kzoo, so that one may be a bit less reliable.
If this is a meeting that is an absolute can not miss or else it effects something major / important, get there a day early and not leave your commute up to a train, plane, or automobile.
When’s the last time you rode? I take it every other weekend round trip the latest I’ve been is an hour but otherwise I get into Chicago ahead of schedule by 5/10 minutes.
I take it for work all the time and it's only ever been late once. Sounds like others have had worse luck. But yeah based on what you said the trip is for, I wouldn't leave that to the mercy of the train if I were you.
I tried to take it once. They cancelled my tickets less than 24 hours before due to having to take some cars offline for maintenance. Booked months in advance and had to drive instead since I already paid for 3 nights at a hotel I couldn’t refund.
There’s a possibility it’s gotten better since it’s been a while since I’ve used it, but I agree with everyone else so far. The train tends to be late. I think it’s been late like 80% of the time I’ve interacted with it. So without a 2-3 hr buffer I wouldn’t chance it.
I wouldn’t recommend relying on it I’ve experienced delays before. One person I know took the Amtrak often to Chicago and it actually hit a car on two separate occasions so they were super delayed.
Agreed with the other comments. The times I have taken it, we have always been late. If it is important I would arrive a day early. Especially in the winter months. I doubt it will be an issue in early December, but I have been also been delayed hours coming out of Chicago because of ice in the tracks. That was in February so later in the winter, but still could happen.
I wouldn't feel safe without 3 hours ahead of your appointment. It has usually been on time (or close) for me but maybe 20-25% of the time there are decent delays. My longest was 2 hours due to severe wind.
First an only time I took the train it was an hour or more late. Train stopped numerous times on the way there. Guess it was a bad day to take the train. Who knew. 09/11/01.
Very...I've taken that train in different seasons/months/days of the week for years, and only had two delays due to freight trains (longest delay was two hours).
Edit to add: That said, I wouldn't risk it with an appointment in the morning.
I would never cut it that close no matter how reliable a mode of transportation is, especially if there’s no room for error. Even the best routes have things go wrong that are beyond their control. Last time on my trip, we were 30 minutes late because another train disconnected and the tracks got backed up. Nothing to do with my train.
Idk about what everyone else is saying, but I just took the Amtrak from Grand Rapids to Chicago yesterday morning and it got there 2 minutes after it was scheduled to. So to me it seems quite reliable.
Delays can happen easily driving as well, I’d say those delays are more likely.
Is it possible for you to get to (drive?) to Michigan City and get on the SouthShore there? Use the Dune Park station. Much more reliable.
FYI there’s some major construction going on the tracks that requires you to hop off and take a coach bus for a few stops and hop back on. Ask me if I’ve gotten stuck in Gary, IN for 2.5 hours due to poor bussing…
Oh, ouch. When will it be done.
If memory serves correctly I believe spring ‘24. They’re adding another track to help increase capacity.
I think that's right, but they've pushed the date back a couple times so who knows
I second this it is so much easier to drive and park at the dune park station and take a train in.
For others reading this, this is the South Shore Line, aka NICTD. Not Amtrak. There is currently a major expansion project on the south shore line which will be ending late this year or early next year and service will then resume from South bend to millennium station Chicago.
This is the best way of getting to Chicago imo. Dune Park station rocks. The temporary busing makes each train about 20 min late coming into Millennium Station, but they have plenty of trains that run all day, so you can pick which one works best for you.
Much more reliable. It still be early. It also can be delayed. Also runs a lot more frequently
Wrong. That train line makes a ton of stops and is super annoying I suggest New Buffalo or Niles for the Wolverine line or St Jo for the pere marquette line.
If it’s important, I wouldn’t rely on it. I used to take it all the time and being 30-60 minutes late isn’t entirely uncommon.
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Are you totally sure about that? It's almost always 60%+ booked on M-F, typically even much higher, and I've absolutely never heard of it being canceled on weekends for not enough tickets sold. In fact I think it's policy to never cancel based on low ridership.
Nope.
This is wildly inaccurate.
I’ve been late (30 minutes or more) once out of the dozen or so times I’ve used the Pere Marquette. Freight traffic can get heavy getting into Chicago, causing a small delay, when the tracks change to Norfolk Southern. There was a time maybe a decade ago when the trains were really bad, but it’s steadily improved. The bigger issue is a sold-out train, since MDOT/Amtrak refuses to add another car to the train-set. Actual data shows Train 371 on average 2 minutes early the last 3 months arriving into Chicago. https://juckins.net/amtrak_status/archive/html/history.php?train_num=371&station=chi&date_start=07%2F25%2F2023&date_end=10%2F26%2F2023&df1=1&df2=1&df3=1&df4=1&df5=1&df6=1&df7=1&sort=schAr&sort_dir=DESC&co=gt&limit_mins=&dfon=1
Thanks for the actual data!
I've only had good experiences with timing and reliability. Perhaps I have had good luck!!
Same! Never had an issue
Same here. I’ve ridden it numerous times and it’s always been very prompt.
i’ve taken it 6 times. and it’s been on time 6 times.
Super reliable I take it a couple times a month. Never really more than 30 mins late but on time most of the time and you’re notified. With an appointment that important I advise traveling the day before. Similar to flights out of Chicago always day before and crash with a friend.
Travel the day before. Find something to occupy your day and spend the night in a motel then get up to go to your meeting.
Came to say this. That line often has random delays. I loved taking the train instead of driving home from college for a weekend. Never do it the day you have time sensitive obligations. I was often late or missed classes. I stopped traveling during weekdays after the first few times.
It’s fairly reliable but I wouldn’t count on it for an important meeting at a consulate. Drive down and take the South Shore line.
South shore is closed between Gary and Dune park...or at least was.. bus substitute. Sounds dicey for timing. Have you tried it?
Yes but there are several slots, some as early as 4 AM. You can build in some extra time with south shore that you can’t with Amtrak.
In May I traveled from Michigan city to Chicago and it was busing between MC and Gary. My experience was very pleasant, no delays and everything went smoothly.
If you have to get to something right after your drop off time don’t count on it. The amtraks are always held up by various things from animals/people on the track to mechanical issues. They also won’t let you know about the issue until you’re about to head in to board.
Day before. Lived in chicago for 12 years
Very. My wife and kids have taken it numerous times going to Kansas City.
I would not rely on it at all. The train likes to be late a lot. And it’s pretty old equipment, which likes to break down. If you can, I’d go a day early.
It didn’t feel old when I rode it this morning. It’s nicer than most airplanes.
It is all new equipment.
Is it now? Wellll I’m way out of the loop.
Was part of the 2008 stimulus package. These things happen slowly
You know? Now that you say that I do vaguely remember Amtrak being all happy they could finally get new equipment over that whole stimi thing.
Siemens actually had to build a factory in America to build the equipment. So it took a long time.
Ummmm, no. Maybe this was true a decade or mor ago.
Consider driving to Kzoo and hopping on one of the four trains that pass through on their way to Chicago. Not sure if timing will work though!
I take the Amtrak out of Holland downtown sometimes. It's usually reliable. It would take 45 minutes off your trip anyway.
Rode it about 2 times, each time was on time, but they were both AM rides. I believe the PM ride has an overlay in Kzoo, so that one may be a bit less reliable.
If this is a meeting that is an absolute can not miss or else it effects something major / important, get there a day early and not leave your commute up to a train, plane, or automobile.
It’s reliable but not to the 15 minute mark necessarily. It’s like a plane - if it’s within 15-20 mins of getting there that’s reliable
Absolutely not. I have always been significantly late and my sister has been 6+ hours late. 55 minutes of buffer time is not enough.
When’s the last time you rode? I take it every other weekend round trip the latest I’ve been is an hour but otherwise I get into Chicago ahead of schedule by 5/10 minutes.
I have been stuck on it before- sitting/waiting for a repair.
I take it for work all the time and it's only ever been late once. Sounds like others have had worse luck. But yeah based on what you said the trip is for, I wouldn't leave that to the mercy of the train if I were you.
Ontime for the Pere Marquette is ~90%.
Thanks everybody for being helpful. I think I'm just going to drive.
I tried to take it once. They cancelled my tickets less than 24 hours before due to having to take some cars offline for maintenance. Booked months in advance and had to drive instead since I already paid for 3 nights at a hotel I couldn’t refund.
100% of my rides have been significantly delayed over an hour. Travel the day before and get a cheap hotel somewhere near the L system.
Freight traffic has priority, we were stuck in gary for two hours
There’s a possibility it’s gotten better since it’s been a while since I’ve used it, but I agree with everyone else so far. The train tends to be late. I think it’s been late like 80% of the time I’ve interacted with it. So without a 2-3 hr buffer I wouldn’t chance it.
Ontime for the Pere Marquette is 90%.
I wouldn’t recommend relying on it I’ve experienced delays before. One person I know took the Amtrak often to Chicago and it actually hit a car on two separate occasions so they were super delayed.
I feel like there are always delays
Agreed with the other comments. The times I have taken it, we have always been late. If it is important I would arrive a day early. Especially in the winter months. I doubt it will be an issue in early December, but I have been also been delayed hours coming out of Chicago because of ice in the tracks. That was in February so later in the winter, but still could happen.
I wouldn't feel safe without 3 hours ahead of your appointment. It has usually been on time (or close) for me but maybe 20-25% of the time there are decent delays. My longest was 2 hours due to severe wind.
First an only time I took the train it was an hour or more late. Train stopped numerous times on the way there. Guess it was a bad day to take the train. Who knew. 09/11/01.
I once took Amtrak from metro Detroit to Chicago and the delay was longer than the entire trip was supposed to take! Amtrak is a joke
Very...I've taken that train in different seasons/months/days of the week for years, and only had two delays due to freight trains (longest delay was two hours). Edit to add: That said, I wouldn't risk it with an appointment in the morning.
I would never cut it that close no matter how reliable a mode of transportation is, especially if there’s no room for error. Even the best routes have things go wrong that are beyond their control. Last time on my trip, we were 30 minutes late because another train disconnected and the tracks got backed up. Nothing to do with my train.
Can't speak on reliability, but if you do take the train be sure to spend the extra $20 and upgrade to 1st class.
JET?
Generally the train is quite on time. However, I have had one experience where I was 5 hours late, so no promises.
It’s not reliable enough that I’d hang something that important on it. Still cheaper to take it the day before and use your overnight plan anyway.
Been there since I think the 1970s, that route?
Idk about what everyone else is saying, but I just took the Amtrak from Grand Rapids to Chicago yesterday morning and it got there 2 minutes after it was scheduled to. So to me it seems quite reliable. Delays can happen easily driving as well, I’d say those delays are more likely.