Amtrak

THIS IS THE WORST SERVICE I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. Train was supposed to leave at 8:37 and it was delayed until 11:15. Then once boarded on the train, we were supposed to arrive by 222 and had so many delays that we will not arrive until after 4pm now. SO RIDICULOUS AND UNBELIEVABLE. Never again will I take this train.

Never use Amtrak they lie are never on time and union station in Chicago has many employees all being paid to disrespect those trying to figure where the hell to go… it is time to privatize the rail…

Decent, serviceable, train was on time both ways. More than I can say for the City of Springfield.

It is a pain that the rails in Springfield are under construction so you take a bus to Bloomington and then get on the amtrak. In all it is an easy way to get from somewhere like Springfield to Chicago and not have to drive though.

This is yer standard small-​city, federally-​funded train station. The ticket agent is friendly, the waiting room is appropriately warm or cool depending on the season, there are vending machines and plenty of benches. I’ve been in better stations, and I’ve been in worse. Bottom line: The Springfield station gets the job done.

The Amtrak station is Springfield is filthy and disgusting. To begin with, the building itself is worn out, tired, and about fall about to fall apart. If for some reason you need to use washroom, I would advise you to hold it until you get on the train, or go before you get the station. The bathrooms are smelly, and full of feces on the toilets. You will also pay a very unnecessary and expensive price from vending machine’s for a can of warm pop. We made the mistake of arriving at the train station 45 min early, and had to wallow amongst the filth. Also, newspapers come about a day late to this station, so check the date before you purchase.

I’m rating the station, not the trains… the station works, it does what it should… but considering it’s in the Illinois State Capitol, and the idea is to get people to use it… I think it needs to be updated. There’s nothing that can really be done about the actual neighborhood, at least I don’t think Amtrak can control that, but the station is in desparate need of updating and repair.
My husband and I rode Amtrak from Chicago to Springfield and when we arrived at the station in Springfield to head home to Chicago, we actually looked around, there’s cracked walls, an old smell, expensive vending machines (seriously, $ 1.75 for a bottle of Diet Pepsi!) and uncomfortable old wooden benches. For what it’s worth, I could really like the old benches, if the rest of the building got an update and maybe put a little concession area in, with more than machines… maybe a person to sell you a newspaper and a soda (Part-​time, maybe, just on the weekends???).
The station definitely has the old town feel, but at the very least it needs a face-​lift.