Chicon 2000: Transport by Train

   Chicon 2000 
   
                              Transport by Train
                                       
      Rev. 06-Feb-2000
      
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   Infobot: info@chicon.org
   
   Chicago's growth as a city can be traced to the growth of the
   railroads in the United States. Even with the advent of the airlines
   and the Interstate System, Chicago still enjoys a monumental train
   presence, with four active stations in the downtown area, three
   serving commuter rail, and the fourth serving local and long distance
   passenger rail.
   
  Amtrak
  
   Amtrak serves the continental United States, with over a dozen lines
   running into Union Station, at 210 S. Canal St., Chicago IL 60661, on
   the west side of the Loop. There are too many routes to try and list
   here, but Amtrak <http://www.amtrak.com/> has a comprehensive listing
   of routes and fares, and offers on-line booking.
   
   Chicon 2000 has made arrangements with Amtrak to offer Chicon 2000
   members a 10% discount on travel to the convention, with a stipulation
   of a return by September 7th, 2000. Mention fare code X-51L-952.
   Amtrak Reservation can be reached at (800) 872-7245.
   
   Getting from Union Station to the convention is best done by taxi
   (around $7) or Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus (Route 151, board
   on Canal St, take the southbound bus, which turns west, $1.50 fare.
   Get off at Wacker Drive, walk 1 block east to the convention). Walking
   is possible, but it would be nearly a mile from Union Station to the
   convention.
   
   The CTA Downtown Sightseeing Brochure
   <http://www.yourcta.com/downloads/brochures/sightseeing.pdf> (PDF)
   lists most of the hotels and sights in the downtown Chicago area, with
   bus and train routes connecting them. The Chicon Hotels are listed, by
   numbers -- 31 is the Hyatt, 20 is the Fairmont, and 52 is the
   Swissotel.
   
  Metra
  
   Metra, a consortium of 4 independent rail compaines, serves the seven
   counties around the Chicagoland area, feeding into four stations in
   the downtown area -- Union Station, Randolph Street Station, LaSalle
   Street Station and the Ogilvie Transportation Center. Trains run as
   far as Kenosha WI and South Bend IN. The CTA Downtown Sightseeing
   Brochure <http://www.yourcta.com/downloads/brochures/sightseeing.pdf>
   (PDF) lists how to get from the stations to the convention hotels,
   note that the Randolph Street Station is just one block south of the
   Fairmont. Online schedules and fare information is at the online Metra
   Information Center <http://www.metrarail.com/>.
   
   Disclaimer: None of the above mentioned companies are affiliated in
   any way with Chicon 2000, and are offered for informational purposes
   only.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
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   (Table of Contents) Next: Transport by Bus 
   
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