Never taken the train before? It’s as easy as ripping off a savings and loan. Passengers may board departing trains at Union Station 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure; tickets are taken by the conductor once the train is under way. Boardings and track numbers are announced on the PA at Union Station, but you probably won’t be able to understand them; they are also shown on the TV screens located here and there in the waiting room, which sometimes work. Signs identify trains by name, number, and major stops on the Union Station platforms. (These signs have lights that are turned on when the train is boarding.)
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For information, call 1-800-USA-RAIL. A free booklet on the Amtrak system is available from Amtrak Distribution Center, PO Box 7717, Itasca, IL 60143; from Union Station; and from the better class of travel agents. It includes some route information, descriptions of services, and facts about various Amtrak tours and hotel packages.
