The Great Hall is the centerpiece to Union Station.
It's got exits to Jackson, Adams, Clinton, and the west side of Canal - along with the mysterious Founder's Room and Burlington Room.
To exit to Jackson or Adams, you have to go up these stairwells. Halfway up each stairwell, there's a landing with a Hobbit-sized door.
On the way to the platforms, you'll pass by Amtrak customer service and the Metropolitan Lounge to the right...
...and some extra seating and brochures to the left?
Turns out there used to be a candy shop here! It's been completely eviscerated though.
The inside of the Metropolitan Lounge is quite nice! I wasn't able to get many pictures here as I was otherwise occupied (and I didn't want to take lots of pictures of random people)
Union is split into two groups of platforms - North Concourse and South Concourse, commonly abbreviated as "Union North" and "Union South".
However, past the "To All Trains" sign, the path splits 3 ways! Going straight ahead will take you to the Amtrak section of Union.
Backtracking and turning left will take you to Union North, past the ticket offices and paper maps.
There are 6 platforms at Union North serving tracks 1-23 and the Metra MD-W, MD-N, and NCS lines. If you're confused by the math, North Concourse only has odd-numbered tracks, and South has only even-numbered tracks!
Tracks 17 through 23 are served only by Amtrak and are only accessible via the Amtrak holding pen. Except at night, when no one's there to tell you off.
There's a hallway connecting the North and South concourses. It also brings you by the Amtrak area, but we've already been there.
South Concourse serves 6 platforms and the Metra BNSF, SWS, and HC lines. It has tracks 2 to 38 according to a sign - I'm not quite sure how that math works out.
This way leads back to the great hall, and also to the Greyhound gravestone, the Amtrak baggage claim, and a system map!
Also this way is the Union Station pedway, leading to Union Station Transit Center... (and NOT taxis. No more taxis!)
...and halfway to Clinton Blue. Not all the way! Only halfway. And you have to cross a parking garage.
To go to Union from the street, you have to go through this door. Which is completely separate from this other door even though they look identical.
Returning from the pedway and up the escalators (the middle one is broken) will bring you to the Union Station Food Court, which is not good at all. At least there's an interesting bit of Milwaukee Road history.
Near the elevator to Union South is this strange hallway. I'm not sure I was meant to go in, but it doesn't seem to go anywhere sensitive, so here's what's inside!
There are many entrances to the station besides from the Great Hall! There's two entrances that place you at either end of the food court, almost at the platforms, from Adams (north concourse) and Jackson (south concourse).
Another is on Madison Street, which places you at the north end of the north concourse platforms (except for tracks 1, and 3. Also 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25 but those are only used by Amtrak)
I am eternally grateful for Big Union Station Fan
bnsf door
This is the entrance from the west side of Canal Street
9-11
16-14
She's blue for an amazing reason! They also put the flag in the Great Hall back :(
When coming from the Adams entrance to the Great Hall, you'll pass by this elevator center that is completely useless because every single one has been sealed shut. I do not know what it's for.
Free fluorescent bulbs, ripe for the taking! Will probably explode and are 100% burnt out.
C-02! Amtrak Carbon Dioxide! Open 8-16, Monday to Friday!
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